Novel biological functions of interleukin-4: formation of tube-like structures by vascular endothelial cells in vitro and angiogenesis in vivo.
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.
Fukushi
J
J
Department of Biochemistry, Kyushu University School of Medicine, Fukuoka, Japan. fukushi@mailserver.med.kyushu-u.ac.jp
Morisaki
T
T
Shono
T
T
Nishie
A
A
Torisu
H
H
Ono
M
M
Kuwano
M
M
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
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D015847:Interleukin-4