Interleukin (IL)-6 directs the differentiation of IL-4-producing CD4+ T cells.
Interleukin (IL)-4 is the most potent factor that causes naive CD4+ T cells to differentiate to the T helper cell (Th) 2 phenotype, while IL-12 and interferon gamma trigger the differentiation of Th1 cells. However, the source of the initial polarizing IL-4 remains unclear. Here, we show that IL-6, probably secreted by antigen-presenting cells, is able to polarize naive CD4+ T cells to effector Th2 cells by inducing the initial production of IL-4 in CD4+ T cells. These results show that the nature of the cytokine (IL-12 or IL-6), which is produced by antigen-presenting cells in response to a particular pathogen, is a key factor in determining the nature of the immune response.
Rincón
M
M
Section of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8011, USA.
Anguita
J
J
Nakamura
T
T
Fikrig
E
E
Flavell
R A
RA
D000818:Animals; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000502:physiology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL
D015850:Interleukin-6; D015847:Interleukin-4