The genes for interleukins 3 and 5 map to the same locus on mouse chromosome 11

The cytokines, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, and GM-CSF (encoded by murine genes Il-3, Il-4, Il-5, and Csfgm) belong to a family of secreted glycoprotein hormones that regulate the haemopoietic and immune systems. We demonstrate here using in situ hybridization that Il-3 and Il-5 are both probably located in the segment comprising band A5 and the proximal half of band B1 on mouse chromosome 11 with a possible location point in band B1 near its proximal interface with band A5. In studies reported elsewhere we have shown close physical linkage between Il-3 and Csfgm and also between Il-4 and Il-5. The in situ hybridization results therefore indicate that all four cytokine genes are clustered on chromosome 11 raising the possibility that they arose by ancient gene duplication.