IgE receptor-positive non-B/non-T cells dominate the production of interleukin 4 and interleukin 6 in immunized mice.
The phenotype and antigenic specificity of cells secreting interleukin (IL) 4, IL-6, and interferon gamma was studied in mice during primary and secondary immune responses. T lymphocytes were the major source of interferon gamma, whereas non-B/non-T cells were the dominant source of IL-4 and IL-6 in the spleens of immunized animals. Cytokine-secreting non-B/non-T cells expressed surface receptors for IgE and/or IgG types II/III. Exposing these cells to antigen-specific IgE or IgG in vivo (or in vitro) "armed" them to release IL-4 and IL-6 upon subsequent antigenic challenge. These findings suggest that non-B/non-T cells may represent the "natural immunity" analogue of CD4+ T helper type 2 cells and participate in a positive feedback loop involved in the perpetuation of T helper type 2 cell responses.
Aoki
I
I
Retroviral Immunology Section, Food and Drug Administration, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
Kinzer
C
C
Shirai
A
A
Paul
W E
WE
Klinman
D M
DM
D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005246:Feedback; D005260:Female; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008215:Lymphocytes, Null / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018448:Models, Immunological; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology*; D017455:Receptors, IgE / Q000276:immunology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology
D015850:Interleukin-6; D017455:Receptors, IgE; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D010047:Ovalbumin