title: Cytokine regulation of immunoglobulin isotype switching and expression.
abstract: Several cytokines have been shown to regulate the expression of specific isotypes by affecting either the frequency of isotype switching or allowing maturation of precommited precursors. IL-4 enhances the production of IgG1 and is required for IgE production in vitro and in vivo. Evidence has been provided that Il-4 acts by enhancing switching to IgE, and perhaps IgG1. IFN-gamma was shown to stimulate the secretion of IgG2a in concentrations at which it inhibits IL-4 induced production of IgG1 and IgE. IL-5, on the other hand, appears to stimulate maturation. Recent evidence suggests that transforming growth factor-beta induces switching to IgA, despite the inhibitory activity on other isotypes.
authors.affiliation: DNAX Research Institute, Department of Immunology, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA.
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Coffman
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Savelkoul
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Lebman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D017578:Immunoglobulin Class Switching; D007132:Immunoglobulin Isotypes / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007132:Immunoglobulin Isotypes; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma