Work

Interleukin (IL)-6 Directs the Differentiation of IL-4–producing CD4+ T Cells

Year: 1997

Type: article

Abstract: Interleukin (IL)-4 is the most potent factor that causes naive CD4+ T cells to differentiate to the T helper cell (Th) 2 phenotype, while IL-12 and interferon gamma trigger the differentiation of Th1 cells. However, the source of the initial polarizing IL-4 remains unclear. Here, we show that IL-6, probably secreted by antigen-presenting cells, is able to polarize naive CD4+ T cells to effector Th2 cells by inducing the initial production of IL-4 in CD4+ T cells. These results show that the nature of the cytokine (IL-12 or IL-6), which is produced by antigen-presenting cells in response to a particular pathogen, is a key factor in determining the nature of the immune response.

Source: The Journal of Experimental Medicine

DOI: 10.1084/jem.185.3.461

Authors: Mercedes Rincón, Juan Anguita, Tetsuo Nakamura, Erol Fikrig, Richard A. Flavell

Institutions: Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Yale University

Language: English

Topic: T-cell and B-cell Immunology

Subfield: Immunology

Field: Immunology and Microbiology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases