EFFECTS OF INTERLEUKIN-4 OR STEM-CELL FACTOR ON MAST-CELL MEDIATOR RELEASE AND CYTOKINE GENE-EXPRESSION

We have investigated the capacity of interleukin (IL)-4 or stem cell f actor (SCF) to induce direct mediator release from rodent peritoneal m ast cells, and also to induce or regulate cytokine gene expression in the human HMC-1 mast cell line. SCF, but not IL-4, induced low levels of serotonin release from mouse or rat have investigated the capacity of interleukin (IL)-4 or stem cell factor (SCF) peritoneal mast cells; rat mast cells acquired enhanced responsiveness to SCF during culture . IL-4, but not SCF, enhanced ionomycin-induced transcription and secr etion of several genes, including the cytokines IL-3, IL-4, granulocyt e/macrophage-colony-stimulating factor, IL-8 and the receptor for IL-6 in the human HMC-1 mast cell line.