title: Human interleukin 4.
abstract: Human IL-4 is a mature 129 AA glycoprotein, mostly secreted by activated T cells. It is a pleiotropic cytokine which acts on T and B lymphocytes, monocytes, polymorphonuclear cells, fibroblasts and endothelial cells. In addition it acts at various stages of cell differentiation and its effects are also dependent on the cytokine environment. In particular, IL-4 blocks some of the effects of IL-2 whereas interferon gamma blocks some of the effects of IL-4. In vitro and in vivo experiments in mouse and in vitro experiments in man have shown that IL-4 plays a crucial role in the induction of IgE production, whereas interferons counteract this effect. Human IL-4 binds to a high affinity receptor which is composed at least of one 130-kDa glycoprotein of 800 AA, a member of the newly described hematopoietin receptor superfamily. IL-4 may prove useful as an antitumoral and antiinflammatory agent.
authors.affiliation: Schering-Plough, Laboratory for Immunological Research, Dardilly, France.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Banchereau
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Defrance
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Galizzi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Miossec
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rousset
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D015847:Interleukin-4