Dm. Essayan et al., Differential regulation of antigen-induced IL-4 and IL-13 generation from T lymphocytes by IFN-alpha, J ALLERG CL, 103(3), 1999, pp. 451-457
Background: IL-4 and IL-13 are related cytokines with similar functional pr
operties. Differential regulation of IL-4 and IL-13 has not been described.
Objective: We have examined the effects of IFN-alpha on antigen-driven prol
iferation, IL-4 generation, and IL-13 generation from human PBMCs and T-cel
l clones.
Methods: Proliferation was assessed by H-3-thymidine incorporation. Cytokin
e generation was assessed by reverse transcription PCR and ELISA, Messenger
RNA stability was assessed in the presence of actinomycin D.
Results: IFN-alpha induced a concentration-dependent inhibition of antigen-
driven proliferation of T-H1 and T-H2 clones (median effective concentratio
n, 150 to 200 U/mL); the sensitivity of T-H1 and T-H2 clones to IFN-alpha w
as not significantly different (P = .6). IFN-alpha induced an analogous con
centration-dependent inhibition of antigen-driven IL-13 generation from T-H
1 and T-H2 clones (median effective concentration, 100 U/mL); this effect w
as evident by 12 hours of culture and persisted beyond 48 hours. However, I
L-4 generation from T-H2 clones was insensitive to IFN-alpha at all concent
rations and times tested (1 to 10,000 U/mL). A similar inhibitory effect of
IFN-alpha on mitogen-driven proliferation and IL-13 generation from PBMCs
was demonstrated; once again, IL-4 generation from PBMCs was insensitive to
IFN-alpha. IL-13 mRNA stability was unaffected by IFN-alpha, suggesting tr
anscriptional regulation.
Conclusion: IFN-alpha differentially regulates antigen-stimulated IL-4 and
IL-13 generation.