Mutual regulation between B7-1 (CD80) expressed on T cells and IL-4

We have used T cells from B7-1-deficient TCR transgenic DO11.10 mice to demonstrate a functional role for B7-1 on T cells. B7-1-deficient DO11.10 T cells produce more IL-4 than wild-type DO11.10 T cells, suggesting that B7-1 expressed by T cells regulates the differentiation of IL-4-producing cells. In addition, we found that IL-4 inhibits B7-1 expression by wild-type DO11.10 T cells. Our results suggest that there is a reciprocal relationship between B7-1 expressed on T cells and IL-4 production, which results in a modulatory feedback loop. When high levels of IL-4 are produced by T cells, B7-1 expression by T cells is inhibited, which allows amplification of IL-4 production by these T cells. When low levels of IL-4 are produced by T cells, B7-1 expression by these T cells is increased, and a further reduction in IL-4 production follows. However, in addition to being influenced by IL-4, B7-1 expression by T cells is affected by peptide concentration and by B7 costimulation from APCs. The studies presented here demonstrate that B7-1 on T cells as well as on APCs regulates IL-4 production. However, whereas B7-1 expression on APCs can promote IL-4 production, IL-4 production is inhibited by B7-1 on T cells.