IL-4/B cell stimulatory factor 1 stimulates T cell growth by an IL-2-independent mechanism.
Resting T cells are stimulated to synthesize DNA by IL-4 and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). This response of T cells to IL-4 plus PMA is independent of the action of IL-2 as judged by 1) the lack of IL-2 in supernatants of stimulated cells, 2) the failure to detect IL-2 mRNA in stimulated cells by in situ hybridization, 3) the inability of anti-IL-2R antibody and of anti-IL-2 antibody to block responses to IL-4 plus PMA, and 4) the failure of cyclosporin A to block responses. T cells also respond to anti-CD3 antibodies and IL-4 in the presence of anti-IL-2R antibodies. IL-4 stimulation of growth of the long term T cell line HT-2 also appears to be independent of the action of IL-2. No IL-2 mRNA is found in IL-4-stimulated HT-2 cells by Northern blotting; the response of HT-2 cells to IL-4 is not blocked by anti-IL-2R antibodies; the response of HT-2 cells to IL-4 is not inhibited by cyclosporin A. Although IL-4 stimulation of T cells is independent of IL-2, IL-4 plus PMA treatment of resting T cells does cause enhanced expression of IL-2R and prepares cells to proliferate to IL-2 alone. In both these properties IL-4 resembles IL-2. These experiments lead us to conclude that IL-4 can act as an alternative to IL-2 as authentic T cell growth factor.
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000502:physiology; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D002474:Cell-Free System; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005260:Female; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000502:physiology*; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007378:Interleukins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007399:Interphase / Q000187:drug effects; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D007376:Interleukin-2; D007378:Interleukins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D015847:Interleukin-4; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate