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Murine T-helper clones are classified into two distinct subsets (Th1 and Th2) on the basis of their patterns of lymphokine secretion. Th1 clones secrete interleukin-2 (IL-2), tumour necrosis factor-beta (TNF-beta) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), whereas Th2 clones secrete IL-4, IL-5 and IL-10 (ref. 1). These subsets are reciprocally regulated by IL-4, IL-10 and IFN-gamma and differentially promote antibody or delayed-type hypersensitivity responses. To evaluate whether IL-4 is required for mounting Th2 responses, we generated IL-4-mutant mice (IL-4-/-) and assessed the cytokine secretion pattern of T cells both from naive and Nippostrongylus brasiliensis infected mice. CD4+ T cells from naive IL-4-/- mice failed to produce Th2-derived cytokines after in vitro stimulation. The levels of Th2 cytokines IL-5, IL-9 and IL-10 from CD4+ T cells obtained after nematode infection were significantly reduced. The reduced IL-5 production in IL-4-/- mice correlated with reduced helminth-induced eosinophilia, which has been shown to be dependent on IL-5 in vivo. We conclude that IL-4 is required for the generation of the Th2-derived cytokines and that immune responses dependent on these cytokines are impaired.

Original publication

DOI

10.1038/362245a0

Type

Journal article

Journal

Nature

Publication Date

18/03/1993

Volume

362

Pages

245 - 248

Keywords

Alleles, Animals, Antibody Formation, Base Sequence, Cells, Cultured, Crosses, Genetic, Cytokines, DNA, Eosinophilia, Female, Gene Rearrangement, Heterozygote, Homozygote, Immunoglobulin A, Immunoglobulin E, Immunoglobulin G, Interferon-gamma, Interleukin-4, Interleukins, Kanamycin Kinase, Lymph Nodes, Lymphocyte Activation, Male, Mice, Mice, Inbred Strains, Molecular Sequence Data, Mutation, Nippostrongylus, Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Phosphotransferases, Restriction Mapping, Strongylida Infections, T-Lymphocyte Subsets, T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer, Transcription, Genetic