title: IL-4 and IL-4 receptor expression is dispensable for the development and function of natural killer T cells.
abstract: CD4 T cells acquire functional properties including cytokine production upon antigenic stimulation through the T cell receptor (TCR) and differentiate into T helper (Th) cells. Th1 cells produce interferon (IFN)-γ and Th2 cells produce interleukin (IL)-4. Th1 and 2 cells utilize IFN-γ and IL-4 for further maturation and maintenance, respectively. Promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger (PLZF)-expressing invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells develop in the thymus and acquire functional ability to produce IL-4 and IFN-γ in the thymus in the absence of antigenic stimulation. In response to antigenic stimulation, iNKT cells rapidly produce IFN-γ and IL-4. However, it is still unknown as to whether iNKT cells require these cytokines for maturation or survival in vivo. In this study, using IL-4- and IL-4 receptor- (IL-4R) deficient mice, we demonstrate that IL-4 as well as IL-4R expression is dispensable for the development, function and maintenance of iNKT cells.
authors.affiliation: Immune Cells and Inflammation Section, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America.
authors.forename: Archna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Berga-Bolanos
authors.forename: Dil Afroz
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Sultana
authors.forename: Jyoti Misra
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Sen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D055611:Natural Killer T-Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D060168:Thymocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D053662:Interleukin-4 Receptor alpha Subunit
chemical_list: D007371:Interferon-gamma; D015847:Interleukin-4; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; C504002:Il4ra protein, mouse; D053662:Interleukin-4 Receptor alpha Subunit