title: Contribution of interleukin-3 to antigen-induced Th2 cytokine production.
abstract: Short-term stimulation of mouse spleen cells in vitro with interleukin (IL)-3 induces the secretion of the Th2 cytokines IL-4 and IL-6. Non-B/non-T cells were the target of this IL-3 effect. However, during long-term antigen-dependent culture, T cells are the major source of IL-4 and IL-6. The addition of IL-3 to such cultures also led to a significant increase in IL-4 and IL-6 production. This Th2 cytokine secretion was amplified by the addition of irradiated non-B/non-T cells at the initiation of culture, and was inhibited by anti-IL-4 antibodies. These findings suggest that IL-3 induces the rapid release of IL-4 and IL-6 by non-B/non-T cells, thereby creating an immune milieu conducive to the development of antigen-specific IL-4 and IL-6-secreting Th2 cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Aoki
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ishii
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Minami
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Klinman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005246:Feedback; D005260:Female; D007377:Interleukin-3 / Q000502:physiology*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D016207:Cytokines; D007377:Interleukin-3; D015847:Interleukin-4