title: What controls tissue-specific expression of the IL-4 gene?
abstract: Interleukin-4 (IL-4) plays a central role in the pathogenesis of allergic inflammation by inducing Ig class switch to IgE. IL-4 is also the most potent factor that drives naive T helper (Th) cells to differentiate to the Th2 phenotype. Recently, efforts have been made to explore the molecular basis of the Th2-specific IL-4 expression in CD4 T cells. Transcription factors, such as GATA-3, NF-IL6 and c-Maf, were found to be preferentially expressed in Th2 cells and to play an important role in regulation of the IL-4 promoter activity. Yet, other transcription factors may be indirectly involved in Th2-specific expression of IL-4 even though they are present in both Th1 and Th2 cells. In conclusion, Th2-specific expression of the IL-4 gene appears to be controlled by a multi-factor-system.
authors.affiliation: Tumor Immunology Program, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany. m.li-weber@dkfz.heidelberg.de
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li-Weber
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Laur
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Davydov
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Salgame
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Krammer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000235:genetics*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic
chemical_list: D015847:Interleukin-4