title: Interleukin 4 induces CD4+/CD8- to CD8+/CD4- transformation of human neonatal T cells by way of a double positive intermediate.
abstract: We have determined that IL-4 induces the generation of CD4+/CD8+ T cells in cultures of neonatal lymphocytes. Sorting, positive, and negative selection experiments indicate that these cells arise from a subpopulation of CD4+/CD8- cells present in the neonate but not in the adult. We have further determined that these IL-4 generated "double positive" cells further differentiate to express only the CD8 marker. Our findings suggest an undescribed and dramatic role for IL-4 in T cell differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy, National Children's Medical Research Center, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Reason
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ebisawa
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nagakura
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Iikura
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D015415:Biomarkers; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000187:drug effects; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D015415:Biomarkers; D015847:Interleukin-4