title: Inhibition of Kit expression by IL-4 and IL-10 in murine mast cells: role of STAT6 and phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase.
abstract: The c-kit protooncogene encodes a receptor tyrosine kinase that is known to play a critical role in hemopoiesis and is essential for mast cell growth, differentiation, and cytokine production. Studies have shown that the Th2 cytokine IL-4 can down-regulate Kit expression on human and murine mast cells, but the mechanism of this down-regulation has remained unresolved. Using mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells, we demonstrate that IL-4-mediated Kit down-regulation requires STAT6 expression and phosphotidylinositide-3'-kinase activation. We also find that the Th2 cytokine IL-10 potently down-regulates Kit expression. IL-4 enhances IL-10-mediated inhibition in a manner that is STAT6 independent and phosphotidylinositide-3'-kinase dependent. Both IL-4- and IL-10-mediated Kit down-regulation were coupled with little or no change in c-kit mRNA levels, no significant change in Kit protein stability, but decreased total Kit protein expression. Inhibition of Kit expression by IL-4 and IL-10 resulted in a loss of Kit-mediated signaling, as evidenced by reduced IL-13 and TNF-alpha mRNA induction after stem cell factor stimulation. These data offer a role for STAT6 and phosphotidylinositide-3'-kinase in IL-4-mediated Kit down-regulation, coupled with the novel observation that IL-10 is a potent inhibitor of Kit expression and function. Regulating Kit expression and signaling may be essential to controlling mast cell-mediated inflammatory responses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond 23284, USA.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mirmonsef
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Shelburne
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fitzhugh Yeatman
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Chong
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Ryan
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D046508:Culture Techniques; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000276:immunology*; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000502:physiology*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000502:physiology*; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000502:physiology*; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D050800:STAT6 Transcription Factor; D019089:Stem Cell Factor / Q000502:physiology; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D016207:Cytokines; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D050800:STAT6 Transcription Factor; C494100:Stat6 protein, mouse; D019089:Stem Cell Factor; D015534:Trans-Activators; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit