title: Human naive CD4 T cells produce interleukin-4 at priming and acquire a Th2 phenotype upon repetitive stimulations in neutral conditions.
abstract: The maturation of naive CD4 T cells into interleukin (IL)-4-producing effectors was shown to require the presence of IL-4 at priming, the cellular origin of which remains unclear. We demonstrate here that naive T cells themselves release IL-4 at very low levels that are nevertheless sufficient to promote their development into Th2-like cells. This conclusion is based on three observations: (1) highly purified human naive CD4 T cells, of neonatal or adult origin, develop into Th2 effectors upon repetitive cycles of stimulation with anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (mAb) cross-linked to CD32-B7 transfected L fibroblasts followed by IL-2 expansion; (2) IL-4 protein is readily detectable in the concentrated supernatant fluids of priming cultures performed in the presence of anti-IL-4 receptor mAb; and (3) addition of anti-IL-4 or anti-IL-4 receptor mAb at priming markedly inhibits the acquisition of IL-4- and IL-5-producing capacity while enhancing that of interferon-gamma.
authors.affiliation: University of Montreal, Louis-Charles Simard Research Center, Notre-Dame Hospital, Canada.
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Demeure
authors.forename: L P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Byun
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ishihara
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vezzio
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Delespesse
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D015847:Interleukin-4