K. Friedrich et al., The two subunits of the interleukin-4 receptor mediate independent and distinct patterns of ligand endocytosis, EUR J BIOCH, 265(1), 1999, pp. 457-465
Interleukin-4 (IL-4) triggers cellular responses by interaction with the bi
partite interleukin-4 receptor (IL-4R). IL-4-responsive cells specifically
endocytose IL-4. We studied the ligand internalization properties of the hu
man IL-4R and analyzed the specific functions of its two subunits IL-4R alp
ha and gamma c in this process. IL-4 mutant RY, which binds to IL-4R alpha
but does not recruit ye into the receptor complex was used as a tool to sho
w that IL-4R alpha can promote independent ligand uptake in human T cells.
Internalization was limited, however, by rapid IL-4 dissociation, suggestin
g that one important function of gamma c in IL-4 endocytosis is to retain t
he ligand sufficiently long within the ternary receptor complex. We then me
asured IL-4 internalization by murine Ba/F3 cells that were stably transfec
ted with various human IL-4R constructs. Efficient IL-4 uptake required the
cytoplasmic section of the receptor. The intracellular domains of IL-4R al
pha and gamma c were responsible for independent endocytosis processes with
distinct kinetics, IL-4R alpha mediated internalization resulted in long-t
erm intracellular maintainance of IL-4, whereas gamma c directed the associ
ated radioligand to intracellular breakdown and rapid release in the form o
f degraded protein. Mutants of either IL-4R subunit deficient in Janus kina
se activation were not impaired in internalization, indicating that IL-4 en
docytosis is not functionally connected to signal transduction.