title: Interleukin 4 is localized to and released by human mast cells.
abstract: Recent attention has focused on the T helper type 2 (Th2) lymphocyte as a source of interleukin 4 (IL-4) in allergic disease. However, Th2 cells themselves require a pulse of IL-4 to initiate this synthesis. Here we provide immunohistochemical evidence of IL-4 localization to human mast cells of the skin and respiratory tract, and demonstrate that immunoglobulin E-dependent stimulation of purified human lung mast cells leads to the rapid release of IL-4 into the extracellular environment. We propose that mast cell activation in an allergic response provides a rapid and local pulse of IL-4 into the local environment essential for the triggering of T lymphocytes into sustained IL-4 production and to initiate inflammatory cell accumulation and activation.
authors.affiliation: Immunopharmacology Group, Medicine I, Southampton General Hospital, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bradding
authors.forename: I H
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Feather
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Howarth
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Britten
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Bews
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Okayama
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Heusser
mesh_terms: D046508:Culture Techniques; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015847:Interleukin-4