title: IL-4 induces apoptosis of endothelial cells through the caspase-3-dependent pathway.
abstract: The present study was designed to investigate the hypothesis that interleukin-4 (IL-4) can induce apoptosis of human endothelial cells and to study regulatory pathways of this process. Indeed, DNA ladder assay and flow cytometry study showed that IL-4 can induce apoptosis of endothelial cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. In addition, IL-4 markedly increased activity of caspase-3, and inhibition of this enzyme suppressed IL-4-induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. These results provide the first evidence that IL-4 can induce apoptosis of human endothelial cells. In addition, the data indicate that the caspase-3-dependent pathway is critically involved in this process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Kentucky Medical Center, Lexington, 40536, USA.
authors.forename: Y W
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kühn
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hennig
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Toborek
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014471:Umbilical Veins
chemical_list: D015847:Interleukin-4; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases