IL-4 induces in vivo production of IFN-gamma by NK and NKT cells

• Published in: Journal of Immunology 2006-05, Vol.176 (9), p.5299-5305
• Main Authors: Morris, Suzanne C, Orekhova, Tatyana, Meadows, Michelle J, Heidorn, Stephanie M, Yang, Junqi, Finkelman, Fred D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Antibodies, Monoclonal - immunology; DNA-Binding Proteins - deficiency; DNA-Binding Proteins - genetics; DNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism; Female; Interferon-gamma - biosynthesis; Interleukin Receptor Common gamma Subunit; Interleukin-12 - metabolism; Interleukin-2 - immunology; Interleukin-2 - metabolism; Interleukin-4 - pharmacology; Killer Cells, Natural - drug effects; Killer Cells, Natural - metabolism; Male; Mice; Mice, Knockout; Receptors, Interleukin - deficiency; Receptors, Interleukin - genetics; Receptors, Interleukin - metabolism; Receptors, Interleukin-2 - immunology; Receptors, Interleukin-2 - metabolism; STAT4 Transcription Factor - metabolism; STAT6 Transcription Factor - metabolism; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory - drug effects; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory - metabolism
• ISSN: 0022-1767; 1550-6606; 1365-2567
• DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.176.9.5299

Although IL-4 and IFN-gamma often have opposite effects and suppress each other's production by T cells, IL-4 can stimulate IFN-gamma production. To characterize this, we injected mice with IL-4 and quantified IFN-gamma production with the in vivo cytokine capture assay. IL-4 induced Stat6-dependent IFN-gamma production by NK and, to a lesser extent, NKT cells, but not conventional T cells, in 2-4 h. Increased IFN-gamma production persisted at a constant rate for >24 h, but eventually declined, even with continuing IL-4 stimulation. This eventual decline in IFN-gamma production was accompanied by a decrease in NK and T cell numbers. Consistent with a dominant role for NK cells in IL-4-stimulated IFN-gamma secretion, IL-4 induction of IFN-gamma was B and T cell-independent; suppressed by an anti-IL-2Rbeta mAb that eliminates most NK and NKT cells; reduced in Stat4-deficient mice, which have decreased numbers of NK cells; and absent in Rag2/gamma(c)-double-deficient mice, which lack T, B, and NK cells. IL-4-induced IFN-gamma production was not affected by neutralizing IL-12p40 and was increased by neutralizing IL-2. IL-13, which signals through the type 2 IL-4R and mimics many IL-4 effects, failed to stimulate IFN-gamma production and, in most experiments, suppressed basal IFN-gamma production. Thus, IL-4, acting through the type 1 IL-4R, induces Stat6-dependent IFN-gamma secretion by NK and NKT cells. This explains how IL-4 can contribute to Th1 cytokine-associated immune effector functions and suggests how IL-13 can have stronger proallergic effects than IL-4.