IL-4 Signaling Pathways and their Primary Biological Effects in Different Immune Cell Types
Click on one of the buttons below to see either the IL-4 signaling pathways or information related to one of the other common cytokine receptor gamma-chain family members.
Get Print CopyT Cell Proliferation
T Cell Proliferation
Proliferation/Survival
Proliferation/Survival
Differentiation
Differentiation
Th2 or Th9 Differentiation
Th2 or Th9 Differentiation
Proliferation
Proliferation
Proliferation
Proliferation
Production & Class Switching
Production & Class Switching
IgG1, IgG2A, IgG2B, IgE
Production
IgG1, IgG2A, IgG2B, IgE
Production
& Proliferation
& Proliferation
Apoptosis
Apoptosis
Proliferation/Survival
Proliferation/Survival
of Mast Cells & Basophils
of Mast Cells & Basophils
To Inflammation
Site
To Inflammation
Site
Mast Cell & Basophil
Priming/Chemotaxis
Mast Cell & Basophil
Priming/Chemotaxis
Overview of IL-4 Signaling and its Primary Biological Effects in Different Immune Cell Types
Interleukin-4 (IL-4) is a glycosylated, type I cytokine with three intra-chain disulfide bridges that adopts a bundled four alpha-helix structure. It is primarily produced by T cells, natural killer T cells, mast cells, and eosinophils. IL-4 initiates signal transduction through one of two different receptor complexes, a type I receptor expressed on hematopoietic cells or a type II receptor expressed on nonhematopoietic cells. The type I receptor consists of the IL-4 R alpha and common gamma-chain/IL-2 R gamma subunits and is specific for IL-4, while the type II receptor consists of the IL-4 R alpha and IL-13 R alpha 1 subunits and can be activated by either IL-4 or IL-13. IL-4 signaling is required for the differentiation of Th2 and Th9 cells and regulates immunoglobulin class switching. In addition, IL-4 plays a central role in the development of allergic inflammation and asthma by enhancing the expression of Fc epsilon RI on B cells, mast cells, and basophils, promoting mast cell survival and proliferation, and inducing mast cell, basophil, and eosinophil chemotaxis.
To learn more, please visit our Common gamma Chain Receptor Family Research Area.
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