title: IL-4 regulates chemokine production induced by TNF-alpha in keratocytes and corneal epithelial cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Eosinophils are thought to play a major role in the pathogenesis of corneal lesions in ocular allergies. The regulation of chemokine production in corneal cells by the Th2 cytokine, interleukin 4 (IL-4), was examined in order to investigate its role in ocular allergies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pure cultures of human corneal epithelial cells and keratocytes were exposed to tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and/or IL-4. 24 hours after exposure, culture supernatants were removed and concentrations of IL-8 and RANTES were quantified by ELISA assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Simultaneous addition of IL-4 inhibited TNF-alpha induced IL-8 production in both corneal epithelial cells and keratocytes. TNF-alpha and IL-4 synergistically stimulated the production of RANTES in keratocytes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Differential regulation of chemokine production from corneal cells by IL-4 may play a role in the selective recruitment of predominantly eosinophils to the ocular surface in ocular allergies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Tokyo Dental College, Chiba, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takano
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fukagawa
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shimmura
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsubota
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Oguchi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saito
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018946:Chemokine CCL5 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000378:metabolism; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000502:physiology*; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D018946:Chemokine CCL5; D016209:Interleukin-8; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D015847:Interleukin-4