title: Novel biological functions of interleukin-4: formation of tube-like structures by vascular endothelial cells in vitro and angiogenesis in vivo.
abstract: The effect of interleukin-4 (IL-4) on angiogenesis was studied in vitro and in vivo. Human recombinant IL-4 significantly stimulated the formation of tube-like structures in collagen gels by bovine aortic endothelial cells as well as by human microvascular endothelial cells. Human recombinant IL-4 at 50-500 U/ml stimulated by about two- to threefold the formation of tubes by bovine aortic endothelial cells; the rate was comparable to that of basic fibroblast growth factor. Tube formation was almost completely inhibited by the addition of IL-4 receptor neutralizing antibody. Administration of rat recombinant IL-4 led to neovascularization when implanted in the rat cornea. Findings suggest that IL-4 may be a mediator of the immune system as well as an inducer of angiogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Kyushu University School of Medicine, Fukuoka, Japan. fukushi@mailserver.med.kyushu-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fukushi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Morisaki
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shono
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nishie
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Torisu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ono
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kuwano
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D015847:Interleukin-4