Interleukin-4 (IL-4) , also known as B cell-stimulatory factor-1, is a monomeric, approximately Th2 cytokine that shows pleiotropic effects during immune responses [1-4]. Mature mouse IL-4 shares 39%, 39%, and 59% aa sequence identity with bovine, human, and rat IL-4, respectively. Human, mouse, and rat IL-4 are species-specific in their activities [5-7]. IL-4 exerts its effects through two receptor complexes [8, 9]. The type I receptor, which is expressed on hematopoietic cells, is a heterodimer of the ligand binding IL-4 R alpha and the common gamma chain. The type II receptor on nonhematopoietic cells consists of IL-4R alpha and IL-13 R alpha 1. The type II receptor also transduces IL-13 mediated signals. IL-4 is primarily expressed by Th2-biased CD4+ T cells, mast cells, basophils, and eosinophils [1, 2]. It promotes cell proliferation, survival, and immunoglobulin class switch to IgG1 and IgE in mouse B cells, acquisition of the Th2 phenotype by naive CD4+ T cells, priming and chemotaxis of mast cells, eosinophils, and basophils, and the proliferation and activation of epithelial cells [10 - 13]. IL-4 plays a dominant role in the development of allergic inflammation and asthma [12, 14]..
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