title: Interleukin-4 is a potent mitogen for capillary endothelium.
abstract: Interleukin-4 (IL-4) is a mitogen for both microvascular (human adrenal capillary, HACE) and large vessel (human umbilical vein, HUVEC) endothelial cells. Comparison of growth promotion by IL-4 to that by the potent endothelial mitogen fibroblast growth factor (FGF) showed the activity of IL-4 on HACE cells to be strong (50% of that with FGF) but on HUVEC's weak (12% of that with FGF). Growth stimulation was characterised by both 3H-thymidine incorporation and by cell number, and was maximal at 1 nM IL-4. The presence of IL-4 receptors on HACE cells and HUVEC's was confirmed by specific binding of radioiodinated IL-4. Scatchard analysis confirmed a single high affinity binding receptor on both HACE cells (Kd = 80 pM, 358 receptors/cell) and HUVEC's (Kd = 88 pM, 2,580 receptors/cell). Potent activity on capillary as opposed to large vessel endothelium places IL-4 in a unique position amongst endothelial mitogens.
authors.affiliation: Imperial Cancer Research Fund, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Toi
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bicknell
mesh_terms: D002196:Capillaries; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004261:DNA Replication / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007700:Kinetics; D008934:Mitogens; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism; D014471:Umbilical Veins
chemical_list: D008934:Mitogens; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D015847:Interleukin-4; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D013936:Thymidine