Recombinant interferon-gamma inhibits the expression of IL-4 receptors on human lymphocytes.
Interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) has been shown to inhibit many of the activities of IL-4, including the induction of IgE synthesis and the proliferation of T cell clones. Here we demonstrate that IFN-gamma is able to inhibit the expression of IL-4 receptors on peripheral blood lymphocytes from both normal healthy donors and from patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Inhibition was shown to be dose-dependent and did not affect the binding affinity of the receptor as shown by Scatchard analysis. IFN-gamma was unable to displace labelled IL-4 from its membrane receptor, which demonstrates that IFN-gamma and IL-4 do not compete for the same membrane binding protein. The ability of IFN-gamma to down-regulate IL-4 receptors may be important in controlling certain immune responses.
Byron
K A
KA
Department of Biochemistry, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Varigos
G A
GA
Wootton
A M
AM
D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D019948:Receptors, Interleukin-4; D011975:Receptors, Mitogen / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000187:drug effects; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D019948:Receptors, Interleukin-4; D011975:Receptors, Mitogen; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D007371:Interferon-gamma