Interleukin-4 suppresses the interleukin-3 dependent erythroid colony formation from normal human bone marrow cells.
Human recombinant interleukin 4 (IL-4) was studied for its effects on the erythroid burst forming unit (BFU-E) from human bone marrow cells. IL-4 alone neither supports nor suppresses the erythropoietin (Epo)-dependent colony formation. Different results were obtained when IL-4 was combined with interleukin-3 (IL-3) in the presence of Epo. IL-4 suppressed the IL-3 supported erythroid colony formation in all cases (an increase of 58 +/- 8% with IL-3 versus an increase of 14 +/- 7% with IL-3 plus IL-4, n = 8). This antagonizing effect was dependent on the continuous presence of IL-4 in the culture medium, but was independent of adherent cells, B-, T-cells, or the presence of serum in the culture medium. Finally, the effects of IL-4 and IL-3 were studied on the 'Epo-independent' BFU-E by adding Epo on day 3. A decline of the IL-3 supported BFU-E was observed in the presence of IL-4 but the degree of reduction was equivalent to the results obtained when Epo was supplied at day 0. These findings indicate that IL-4 acts as suppressive growth factor for the IL-3 supported erythroid colony formation from human bone marrow cells.
de Wolf
J T
JT
Department of Medicine, University of Groningen, The Netherlands.
Beentjes
J A
JA
Esselink
M T
MT
Smit
J W
JW
Halie
M R
MR
Vellenga
E
E
D001854:Bone Marrow Cells; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003114:Colony-Forming Units Assay; D015672:Erythroid Precursor Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007377:Interleukin-3 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000494:pharmacology*
D007377:Interleukin-3; D004921:Erythropoietin; D015847:Interleukin-4