Interleukin 4 induces cultured monocytes/macrophages to form giant multinucleated cells.
Giant multinucleated cells (GMCs) are associated with granulomatous lesions that form in response to various infectious and noninfectious agents. The present study shows that mouse IL-4 induces the in vitro formation of GMCs by factor-dependent bone marrow and alveolar monocytes via cell fusion. GMCs appear 2 d after incubation of cell cultures with 20 U/ml or more of IL-4. Anti-IL-4 mAbs block the appearance of GMCs in these cultures, indicating that IL-4 acts directly on monocytes to promote fusion and does not secondarily induce the production of other soluble fusion factors. In soft agar cultures, IL-4 also causes the aggregation of macrophages and diminishes their migration. The role of IL-4 in a granulomatous inflammatory response is discussed.
McInnes
A
A
Department of Immunology, DNAX Research Institute, Palo Alto, California 94304.
Rennick
D M
DM
D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells; D002449:Cell Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects; D002459:Cell Fusion / Q000187:drug effects*; D002464:Cell Migration Inhibition; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006131:Growth Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D007377:Interleukin-3 / Q000494:pharmacology; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007378:Interleukins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013535:Suspensions
D006131:Growth Inhibitors; D007377:Interleukin-3; D007378:Interleukins; D013535:Suspensions; D015847:Interleukin-4