title: The role of interleukin-4 in the negative regulation of leukemia cell growth.
abstract: Interleukin-4 (IL-4), originally identified as a B-cell growth factor, has been shown to inhibit certain stages of hematopoietic stem cells. Recently, IL-4 has been recognized as a negative regulatory factor in the growth of hematologic malignancy. In myeloid leukemias, IL-4 can suppress the growth of growth factor-dependent leukemic blast cells derived from acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). IL-4 also suppresses the growth of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia cells through inhibiting the "autocrine" production of IL-6 or granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor. In lymphoid malignancies, IL-4 can inhibit the proliferation of neoplastic cells from Ph1-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia, non-Hodgkin's B-cell lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. Thus, IL-4 is expected to be useful as a therapeutic agent for these hematologic malignancies.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Akashi
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D018952:Antigens, CD34; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000187:drug effects; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells; D002455:Cell Division; D006410:Hematopoiesis; D006801:Humans; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007938:Leukemia / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D007951:Leukemia, Myeloid / Q000473:pathology; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000473:pathology; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D018952:Antigens, CD34; D015847:Interleukin-4