title: Interleukin-4 gene expression in activated human T lymphocytes is regulated by the cyclic adenosine monophosphate-dependent signaling pathway.
abstract: In the present study, we have investigated the involvement of the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent signaling pathway on interleukin-4 (IL-4) gene expression in freshly isolated human T lymphocytes. 2'-0-dibutyryl cAMP (db-cAMP) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) were used to directly and indirectly activate the protein kinase A pathway. Northern analysis showed that concanavalin A (Con A)-, anti-CD3 (alpha CD3)-, or anti-CD3 plus anti-CD28 (alpha CD3/alpha CD28)-induced accumulation of IL-4 mRNA was inhibited by db-cAMP (10(-3) mol/L). Db-cAMP showed a steep dose-dependent inhibition; concentrations < or = 10(-4) mol/L did not affect IL-4 mRNA accumulation. In contrast, GM-CSF mRNA expression showed a wider dose-dependent range; 10(-5) mol/L db-cAMP still affected GM-CSF accumulation. PGE2 inhibited the Con A- and alpha CD3/alpha CD28-induced accumulation of IL-4 mRNA in a dose-dependent fashion. Con A-induced IL-4 mRNA was inhibited by 10(-4) to 10(-7) mol/L PGE2; alpha CD3/alpha CD28-induced IL-4 mRNA was inhibited by 10(-5) to 10(-8) mol/L PGE2. Nuclear run-on experiments showed that the inhibitory effects of db-cAMP and PGE2 were accomplished at transcriptional level in Con A-activated T cells, whereas changes at transcriptional and posttranscriptional level were involved in alpha CD3/alpha CD28-activated T lymphocytes. In contrast to Con A and alpha CD3/alpha CD28 activation, phorbol myristate acetate plus A23187-induced IL-4 mRNA expression was insensitive to the inhibitory effect of db-cAMP and PGE2. Moreover, it appeared that the sensitivity for cAMP-mediated downregulation could not be blocked by stimulation T lymphocytes with alpha CD3/alpha CD28 in the presence of IL-2, IL-7, IL-10, IL-12, or a combination of these cytokines. Finally, it was shown that, in accordance with the mRNA studies, db-cAMP and PGE2 suppressed the IL-4 secretion in Con A- and alpha CD3/alpha CD28-activated T cells. In conclusion, these data show that IL-4 expression is negatively regulated by the protein kinase A-dependent signaling pathway by transcriptional and posttranscriptional mechanisms that depend on costimulatory signals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Borger
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Kauffman
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Postma
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vellenga
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology; D003994:Bucladesine / Q000494:pharmacology; D018106:CD28 Antigens / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D000001:Calcimycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000502:physiology*; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000502:physiology; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000494:pharmacology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D007378:Interleukins / Q000494:pharmacology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D016853:Muromonab-CD3 / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018106:CD28 Antigens; D007378:Interleukins; D016853:Muromonab-CD3; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D003208:Concanavalin A; D015847:Interleukin-4; D000001:Calcimycin; D003994:Bucladesine; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases; D015232:Dinoprostone; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate