Interleukin 4

Interleukin 4
Crystal structure of human IL-4 (2INT)
Available structures PDB Ortholog search: Template:Homologene2PDBe PDBe, Template:Homologene2uniprot RCSB List of PDB id codes 1bbn​, 1bcn​, 1cyl​, 1hij​, 1hik​, 1hzi​, 1iar​, 1iti​, 1itl​, 1itm​, 1rcb​, 2b8u​, 2b8x​, 2b8y​, 2b8z​, 2b90​, 2b91​, 2cyk​, 2d48​, 2int​
Identifiers
Symbols	IL4 ; BSF1; IL-4; MGC79402
External IDs	Template:OMIM5 Template:MGI HomoloGene: 491
Gene ontology Molecular function Template:GNF GO Template:GNF GO Cellular component Template:GNF GO Template:GNF GO Biological process Template:GNF GO Template:GNF GO Template:GNF GO Template:GNF GO Template:GNF GO Template:GNF GO Template:GNF GO Template:GNF GO Template:GNF GO Template:GNF GO Template:GNF GO Template:GNF GO Template:GNF GO Template:GNF GO Template:GNF GO Template:GNF GO Template:GNF GO Template:GNF GO
RNA expression pattern
More reference expression data
Orthologs
Template:GNF Ortholog box
Species	Human	Mouse
Entrez	n/a	n/a
Ensembl	n/a	n/a
UniProt	n/a	n/a
RefSeq (mRNA)	n/a	n/a
RefSeq (protein)	n/a	n/a
Location (UCSC)	n/a	n/a
PubMed search	n/a	n/a

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Interleukin-4, abbreviated IL-4, is a cytokine that induces differentiation of naive helper T cells (Th0 cells) to Th2 cells. Upon activation by IL-4, Th2 cells subsequently produce additional IL-4. The cell that initially produces IL-4, thus inducing Th0 differentiation, has not been identified.

Functions

It has many biological roles, including the stimulation of activated B-cell and T-cell proliferation, and the differentiation of CD4+ T-cells into Th2 cells.

It is a key regulator in humoral and adaptive immunity.

IL-4 induces B-cell class switching to IgE, and up-regulates MHC class II production.

History

This cytokine was co-discovered by Maureen Howard and William Paul and by Dr. Ellen Vitetta and her research group in 1982.

The nucleotide sequence for human IL-4 was isolated four years later confirming its similarity to a mouse protein called B-cell stimulatory factor-1 (BCSF-1).

Related Chapters

• STAT6

Further reading

• Kay AB, Barata L, Meng Q; et al. (1997). "Eosinophils and eosinophil-associated cytokines in allergic inflammation". Int. Arch. Allergy Immunol. 113 (1–3): 196–9. PMID 9130521.CS1 maint: Explicit use of et al. (link) CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
• Marone G, Florio G, Petraroli A, de Paulis A (2001). "Dysregulation of the IgE/Fc epsilon RI network in HIV-1 infection". J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 107 (1): 22–30. PMID 11149986.CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
• Marone G, Florio G, Triggiani M; et al. (2001). "Mechanisms of IgE elevation in HIV-1 infection". Crit. Rev. Immunol. 20 (6): 477–96. PMID 11396683.CS1 maint: Explicit use of et al. (link) CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
• Maeda S, Yanagihara Y (2001). "[Inflammatory cytokines (IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13)]". Nippon Rinsho. 59 (10): 1894–9. PMID 11676128.
• Izuhara K, Arima K, Yasunaga S (2003). "IL-4 and IL-13: their pathological roles in allergic diseases and their potential in developing new therapies". Current drug targets. Inflammation and allergy. 1 (3): 263–9. PMID 14561191.CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
• Copeland KF (2006). "Modulation of HIV-1 transcription by cytokines and chemokines". Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry. 5 (12): 1093–101. PMID 16375755.
• Olver S, Apte S, Baz A, Kienzle N (2007). "The duplicitous effects of interleukin 4 on tumour immunity: how can the same cytokine improve or impair control of tumour growth?". Tissue Antigens. 69 (4): 293–8. doi:10.1111/j.1399-0039.2007.00831.x. PMID 17389011.CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)