The environmental pollutant pyrene induces the production of IL-4.
BACKGROUND
Epidemiologic studies and experiments with mouse models suggest that polyaromatic hydrocarbons contained in, among others, diesel exhaust particles can promote the development of allergy.


OBJECTIVE
Because IL-4 organizes allergic responses in vivo, we have investigated whether pyrene, a major compound of diesel exhaust particles, can affect the production of IL-4.


METHODS
IL-4 production by primary human T cells was assessed by ELISA and messenger RNA transcription was detected by Northern blotting. Activation of the IL-4 promoter was tested in reporter gene assays with transiently transfected cell lines.


RESULTS
Pyrene induced transcription of IL-4 messenger RNA and expression of IL-4 protein in primary human T cells. Pyrene, but not related polyaromatic hydrocarbons, enhanced basal transcription of the human and mouse IL-4 promoter.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that pyrene may promote allergic diseases by inducing the production of IL-4.
Bömmel
H
H
Physiological Chemistry II, Biocenter, Department of Molecular Pathology, Institute of Pathology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
Li-Weber
M
M
Serfling
E
E
Duschl
A
A
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D006841:Hydrocarbons, Aromatic / Q000494:pharmacology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D053662:Interleukin-4 Receptor alpha Subunit; D019169:Jurkat Cells; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D011721:Pyrenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D050800:STAT6 Transcription Factor; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000502:physiology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000009:adverse effects*
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D006841:Hydrocarbons, Aromatic; C504000:IL4R protein, human; D053662:Interleukin-4 Receptor alpha Subunit; D011721:Pyrenes; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D050800:STAT6 Transcription Factor; C494101:STAT6 protein, human; D015534:Trans-Activators; D001335:Vehicle Emissions; D015847:Interleukin-4; C030984:pyrene