Interleukin-4 has basophilic and eosinophilic cell growth-promoting activity on cord blood cells

Abstract

Effects of human recombinant interleukin-4 (IL-4) on cord blood cells depleted of T cells and monocytes were tested in colony assays and liquid cultures. IL-4 did not induce colony formation in semisolid medium, but enhanced generation of basophil colonies induced by conditioned medium (CM) of the bladder carcinoma cell line 5637. In liquid cultures, variable degrees of basophil growth were observed in the presence of IL-3, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), G-CSF, and 5637 CM, or even with IL-4 alone, but the highest number of basophils were obtained when IL-4 was used in combination with IL-3 or 5637 CM. Progressive basophil growth was observed during 3 to 4 weeks of culturing, whereafter the numbers of basophils remained stationary for another 3 weeks. Interestingly, cord blood cell cultures performed with IL-3 contained variable percentages of eosinophils that were further enhanced in the presence of combinations of IL-3 and IL-4. These latter cultures contained approximately 50% eosinophils and 50% basophils. Kinetic studies indicated that basophils were present 7 days after onset of the cultures, whereas eosinophils did not appear before day 13. In contrast to the pronounced effects of IL-4 and 5637 CM on basophil development, relatively low numbers of eosinophils were observed under these culture conditions. Our results indicate that eosinophil and basophil development are regulated by different sets of factors, and that IL-4 has an enhancing effect of both cell lineages in association with the appropriate factors.

Expression of Interleukin 9 in the Lungs of Transgenic Mice Causes Airway Inflammation, Mast Cell Hyperplasia, and Bronchial Hyperresponsiveness

“…It has been shown that CD4 + Th2 cells are present and activated in the bronchial wall and lavage fluid of atopic asthmatics ( 53 , 54 ). IL-4 and IL-5, produced by Th2 cells, have been postulated to have central roles in the initiation and maintenance of allergic inflammation because IL-4 is essential for sustaining a Th2-type immune response ( 55 ), acts on mast cells and eosinophils ( 56 ), and is a critical factor for IgE isotype switching in B cells ( 57 ). IL-5 regulates growth, differentiation, and activation of eosinophils ( 58 , 59 ).…”

Interleukin‐4 and RANTES expression in maturing eosinophils derived from human cord blood CD34+ progenitors

“…It is, however, tempting to speculate that eosinophil‐derived IL‐4 may participate in an autocrine manner for enhancing the proliferative response to IL‐3 and IL‐5. 22 The important question of the effect of IL‐4 on regulation of eosinophil differentiation requires further elucidation.…”

Effects of cyclosporin A and a rapamycin derivative (SAR943) on chronic allergic inflammation in sensitized rats

“…Increased numbers of T cells expressing T‐helper (Th) type 2 cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)‐4 and IL‐5, have been identified in the airways of asthmatics 2,3 . Th2 cells may orchestrate asthmatic inflammation by increasing specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels through an action of IL‐4 on B cells and by increasing the terminal differentiation and activation of eosinophils through the release of IL‐5 4,5 . Th2 cells may modulate the development of chronic structural changes in the airways.…”