Interleukin 4 induces membrane Thy-1 expression on normal murine B cells.
Thy-1, a cell-surface glycoprotein of undetermined function, is expressed in relatively large amounts on mouse thymocytes, peripheral T cells, and neurons. It is widely used as a marker to distinguish peripheral T cells from B cells in mice. We show here that, in five distinct mouse strains, recombinant interleukin 4 (IL-4/B-cell stimulatory factor 1) strikingly induces membrane expression of Thy-1 on the vast majority of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated normal murine B cells. Thy-1+ B cells are precursors for immunoglobulin-secreting cells. RNA blot analysis indicates that B cells express a Thy-1 mRNA of 1.8 kilobases, the same size as that found in T cells. Cell mixing experiments show that only cells derived from Thy-1.2+ donors express Thy-1.2, indicating that B cells expressing Thy-1 have not passively absorbed the glycoprotein from another cell source. Recombinant interferon-gamma inhibits Thy-1 induction by B cells stimulated with LPS and IL-4. Thy-1 is also induced on B cells that have been stimulated as a result of the specific activation of an IL-4-producing T-helper clone. Anti-IL-4 monoclonal antibody inhibits the induction of B-cell Thy-1 in this T-cell-B-cell interaction.
D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002450:Cell Communication; D005260:Female; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000032:analysis; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000378:metabolism; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007378:Interleukins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D018800:Thy-1 Antigens
D000954:Antigens, Surface; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D007378:Interleukins; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D018800:Thy-1 Antigens; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma