Interleukin-4 gene expression in high and low IgE responder mice.
Interleukin-4 (IL-4) gene expression in murine spleen cells was examined by stimulation with concanavalin A (Con A). Spleen cells from a DBA/2 strain of mice, a high IgE responder, expressed IL-4 mRNA within 3 h after incubation with Con A. Maximal IL-4 mRNA expression was observed 6-9 h after stimulation. The amount of IL-4 mRNA induced by Con A was greatest in spleen cells obtained from high IgE responder strains of mice. A trace amount of mRNA was induced in spleen cells from low IgE responder (SJL) mice. The amount of mRNA induced in spleen cells from an intermediate IgE responder (C57BL/6) was smaller than that from high responders, but significantly greater than that from low responders. Spleen cells from IgE nonresponders (SJA/9) developed only a negligible amount of IL-4 mRNA after stimulation with Con A. Time course and optimal concentration of Con A for the expression of IL-4 mRNA were essentially the same in high (DBA/2) and low (SJL) responder strains of mice. The decreased expression of IL-4 mRNA in low IgE responder spleen cells upon stimulation was not due to the decrease in Thy-1-positive cells or L3T4-positive cells in the spleen. The results obtained in the present study may indicate that high and low IgE responder traits are determined depending on their levels of IL-4 mRNA expression.
Mori
A
A
Department of Medicine and Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Japan.
Yamamoto
K
K
Suko
M
M
Watanabe
N
N
Ito
M
M
Miyamoto
T
T
Okudaira
H
H
D000818:Animals; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D003208:Concanavalin A; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E