title: Regulation of macrophage activation markers by IL-4 and IFN-gamma is subpopulation-specific.
abstract: We have addressed the differential regulatory properties that IFN-gamma and IL-4 exert on macrophage (M phi) subpopulations. For this purpose, Thyoglicolate-, Peptone-, and Con A-elicited M phi, as well as bone marrow-derived M phi and P388D1 cells, were cultured in the presence of either IFN-gamma or IL-4. The expression of LFA-1, Mac-1, and Mac-2 after this treatment was studied by FACS analysis. We have found that these surface molecules are differentially modulated by the two lymphokines, depending on the M phi subpopulation studied. Mac-1 is upregulated only in Thyoglicolate-elicited cells after treatment with IFN-gamma, while no change in the expression of Mac-2 was observed in any of the groups. LFA-1 is upregulated by IFN-gamma in Thyoglicolate- and bone marrow-derived M phi and P388D1 cells, while IL-4 does not induce LFA-1 on these cells. Interestingly, however, we have observed the reverse situation on Con A-elicited M phi, where a strong induction of LFA-1 is achieved by treatment of the cells with IL-4, while IFN-gamma does not modify the expression of this antigen. Our results obtained with the lymphokine-stimulated M phi are interpreted in the context of functionally induced M phi subpopulations, which might be regulated by either Th1 or Th2 CD4+ T cells. Thyoglicolate-elicited M phi may represent the in vitro equivalent of a M phi subpopulation regulated in vivo by Th1 cells while Con A-elicited M phi could be the equivalent of a subpopulation regulated by Th2 cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02111.
authors.forename: I J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Molina
authors.forename: B T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Huber
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000032:analysis; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D037502:Galectin 3; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016169:Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1 / Q000032:analysis; D008262:Macrophage Activation; D016177:Macrophage-1 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D037502:Galectin 3; D016169:Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1; D016177:Macrophage-1 Antigen; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma