Interleukin 4

Interleukin 4
Crystal structure of human IL-4 (2INT)
Available structures: 1bbn, 1bcn, 1cyl, 1hij, 1hik, 1hzi, 1iar, 1iti, 1itl, 1itm, 1rcb, 2b8u, 2b8x, 2b8y, 2b8z, 2b90, 2b91, 2cyk, 2d48, 2int
Identifiers
Symbol(s)	IL4; BSF1; IL-4; MGC79402
External IDs	OMIM: 147780 MGI: 96556 Homologene: 491
Gene ontology Molecular Function: • interleukin-4 receptor binding • protein binding Cellular Component: • extracellular region • extracellular space Biological Process: • chemotaxis • cellular defense response • cholesterol metabolic process • B cell differentiation • positive regulation of B cell proliferation • T-helper 2 type immune response • positive regulation of activated T cell proliferation • regulation of phosphorylation • positive regulation of tyrosine phosphorylation of Stat5 protein • negative regulation of apoptosis • connective tissue growth factor biosynthetic process • regulation of isotype switching • positive regulation of MHC class II biosynthetic process • negative regulation of osteoclast differentiation • positive regulation of transcription from RNA polymerase II promoter • positive regulation of isotype switching to IgE isotypes • positive regulation of isotype switching to IgG isotypes • regulation of immune response
RNA expression pattern
More reference expression data
Orthologs
	Human	Mouse
Entrez	3565	16189
Ensembl	ENSG00000113520	ENSMUSG00000000869
Uniprot	P05112	Q5SV00
Refseq	NM_000589 (mRNA) NP_000580 (protein)	NM_021283 (mRNA) NP_067258 (protein)
Location	Chr 5: 132.04 - 132.05 Mb	Chr 11: 53.46 - 53.46 Mb
Pubmed search	[1]	[2]

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [3]

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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.