IL-4 down-regulates the expression of J11d on murine B cells.
T cell-derived IL-4 has many effects on murine B cells, including the up-regulation of class II antigens and the induction of isotype switching. The development of memory B cells and the decreased expression of J11d antigens on these cells are influenced by T cells. In this report, we determined whether the decreased expression of J11d can also be mediated by T cell-derived lymphokines and, in particular, IL-4. We found that IL-4 can down-regulate the expression of J11d on both large and small B cells, that this effect becomes significant after 48 hr of culture and occurs at doses of IL-4 that are similar to those required to up-regulate murine class II MHC antigens encoded by I-region alpha genes (IA). Anti-IL-4 antibody completely blocks this effect but IFN-gamma does not. Other lymphokines (IL-1, IL-2, IL-3, IL-5, IL-6) neither induce a decrease in J11d nor alter the ability of IL-4 to down-regulate J11d expression. The decrease in J11d expression on B cells is not due to a preferential survival of cells expressing lower levels of J11d, although IL-4 has a more pronounced effect on these B cells. Finally, the down-regulation of J11d and up-regulation of IA by IL-4 occurs on all inducible B cells.
Yin
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XM
Department of Microbiology, University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75235.
Vitetta
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D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000276:immunology*; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D016175:B-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D051927:CD24 Antigen; D002469:Cell Separation; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000032:analysis; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007378:Interleukins / Q000494:pharmacology; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018800:Thy-1 Antigens
D015703:Antigens, CD; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D051927:CD24 Antigen; C497890:Cd24a protein, mouse; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D007378:Interleukins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D018800:Thy-1 Antigens; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens