Regulation of expression of IL-4 alleles: analysis using a chimeric GFP/IL-4 gene.
CD4 cells from mice heterozygous for an IL-4 and a GFP/IL-4 gene frequently express a single allele. Analysis of IL-4 or GFP production by cells from recently primed Th2 cells indicates that essentially all are competent to transcribe either allele but have a low probability of doing so. By contrast, long-term Th2 clones show distinct and heritable ratios in the proportion of cells that express IL-4 or GFP. We conclude that in the course of Th2 priming an early efficient event renders both alleles capable of being inefficiently transcribed; a second, less frequent event occurs that renders one allele more competent, accounting for the differential expression of IL-4 and GFP in different clones.
Hu-Li
J
J
Laboratory of Immunology, National Institute of Allergy, and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
Pannetier
C
C
Guo
L
L
Löhning
M
M
Gu
H
H
Watson
C
C
Assenmacher
M
M
Radbruch
A
A
Paul
W E
WE
D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor; C494748:Gata3 protein, mouse; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015534:Trans-Activators; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D015847:Interleukin-4