title: Interleukin-4 inhibits the vascular endothelial growth factor- and basic fibroblast growth factor-induced angiogenesis in vitro.
abstract: The role of interleukin-4 (IL-4) in the inflammatory process has emerged recently. In this study, we investigated the effect of IL-4 on the angiogenic process in an in vitro experimental system. IL-4 significantly inhibited the proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) that was induced by the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). VEGF- or bFGF-induced HUVEC chemotaxis was abrogated by the IL-4 treatment. In addition, the formation of tube-like structures by HUVEC in the presence of VEGF or bFGF was also severely down-regulated by IL-4. The inhibitory effects on the critical steps of angiogenesis were not observed with IL-6 that is abundantly found in the inflamed tissue. Our results suggest that IL-4 may play a regulatory role in normal physiology and provide the potential possibility for IL-4 as a therapeutic agent in the intervention of angiogenesis-related diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chunchon, Korea.
authors.forename: In Yong
authors.initials: IY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jinkoo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Eun-Mi
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: Euh Jun
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Jeoung
authors.forename: Young-Guen
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Jongseon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Choe
mesh_terms: D002633:Chemotaxis / Q000187:drug effects; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004336:Drug Antagonism; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
chemical_list: D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008222:Lymphokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D015847:Interleukin-4