Regulation of IL-4 lymphokine gene expression and cellular proliferation in murine T helper type II cells.
Activation of T cells results in the production of lymphokines and cellular proliferation. Protein kinase C (PKC) plays a key role in this process. It has been shown that this enzyme is essential to elicit a response to Con A or specific antigen in CD4+ T helper type 1 (Th 1) cells that secrete IL-2. We have now explored the signal transduction pathway that leads to transcription of the IL-4 gene and proliferation in murine CD4+ T helper type 2 (Th 2) cells. Surprisingly, we have found in two independently derived Th 2 clones that neither cellular proliferation nor IL-4 lymphokine production is affected by blocking or depletion of PKC. This differential mechanism of signal transmission leading to cellular activation implies a new distinction between murine Th 1 and Th 2 cells.
Muñoz
E
E
Department of Pathology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02111.
Zubiaga
A M
AM
Muñoz
J
J
Huber
B T
BT
D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008806:Mice, Inbred AKR; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D015847:Interleukin-4; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D002118:Calcium