title: Interleukin-16 network in inflammation and allergy.
abstract: Interleukin (IL)-16 is a homotetramer of 14-kDa subunits discovered in 1982 as a T-cell-specific chemoattractant factor. IL-16 plays a role in trafficking of several immune cells and may be a major chemotactic signal for CD4+ cells. Here, we review some of the key biological actions of IL-16. Because this cytokine has been shown to affect the levels of many inflammatory mediators such as histamine, serotonin, regulated upon activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), and other cytokines such as IL-2, we investigated the effect of IL-16 on control and stimulated human umbilical cord blood-derived cultured mast cells after antigen challenge. We found that human recombinant IL-16 (0.2-200 ng/mL) does not affect either basal tryptase or IL-8 release or that induced by anti-immunoglobulin E activation. In accordance with other data in the medical literature, we conclude that the most important function of IL-16 is the chemoattraction of CD4+ cells.
authors: Immunology Division, University of Chieti, Via dei Vestini, Chieti, Italy.
authors: Pio
authors: P
authors: Conti
authors: Duraisamy
authors: D
authors: Kempuraj
authors: Kristiana
authors: K
authors: Kandere
authors: Mario
authors: M
authors: Di Gioacchino
authors: Marcella
authors: M
authors: Reale
authors: Renato C
authors: RC
authors: Barbacane
authors: Maria L
authors: ML
authors: Castellani
authors: Umberto
authors: U
authors: Mortari
authors: William
authors: W
authors: Boucher
authors: Richard
authors: R
authors: Letourneau
authors: Theoharis C
authors: TC
authors: Theoharides
mesh_terms: D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology*; D019410:Interleukin-16 / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015704:CD4 Antigens; D019410:Interleukin-16