Interleukin-4 inhibits interleukin-1 synthesis by a posttranscriptional mechanism.
T cell derived cytokines, interleukin-2 and interferon-gamma, are known to upregulate the interleukin-1 synthesis of monocyte/macrophages. The effect of a third T cell derived cytokine, interleukin-4, was now investigated. Human peripheral blood monocytes were activated with bacterial lipopolysaccharide in the presence or absence of interleukin-4 and the production of biologically active interleukin-1 was quantitated both from the culture supernatants and from the monocyte lysates using the mouse thymocyte assay. Interleukin-4 had a clear dose-dependent suppressive effect on the interleukin-1 synthesis. IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta mRNA levels, quantitated by Northern blot analysis, were equally high in the lipopolysaccharide plus interleukin-4 supplemented cultures and in the cultures with lipopolysaccharide alone, suggesting that the effect of interleukin-4 in the interleukin-1 biosynthesis is post-transcriptional.
Hurme
M
M
Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, University of Helsinki, Finland.
Palkama
T
T
Sihvola
M
M
D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D001681:Biological Assay; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002455:Cell Division; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004926:Escherichia coli; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007378:Interleukins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D007375:Interleukin-1; D007378:Interleukins; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015847:Interleukin-4