Murine interleukin-4 displays potent anti-tumor activity in vivo.
We have devised a sensitive means to assess the anti-tumor effect of cytokines that act via the mobilization of host-mediated defenses. This assay involves transfecting malignant cells to produce a specific cytokine (in this case, IL-4) and measuring the ability of transfectants to form tumors alone and when mixed with a variety of nontransfected tumor cells. In this way, we have identified a potent, non-cell autonomous, anti-tumor effect of IL-4 which is effective against a wide range of tumor cell types in vivo. The effect is reversed by anti-IL-4 antibody, correlates closely with levels of IL-4 production, and is evident in nu/nu mice. The anti-tumor effect seems to be mediated by an inflammatory infiltrate composed of eosinophils and macrophages.
Tepper
R I
RI
Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
Pattengale
P K
PK
Leder
P
P
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007378:Interleukins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D010954:Plasmacytoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D014162:Transfection; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D000906:Antibodies; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007378:Interleukins; D015847:Interleukin-4