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Interleukin-5: an eosinophil growth and activation factor.
1National Institute for Medical Research, Mill Hill, London.
Developments in Biological Standardization
|January 1, 1988
Summary
Researchers identified a mouse lymphokine, now called interleukin-5 (IL5), that stimulates eosinophil differentiation. While active on human eosinophils, human IL5 showed no activity on human B cells, unlike its mouse counterpart.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- A mouse lymphokine was identified and characterized for its role in eosinophil differentiation.
- This factor was found to be identical to B cell growth factor II and is now termed interleukin-5 (IL5).
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the function of the mouse lymphokine, now known as IL5, on human cells.
- To clone and express the human IL5 gene and assess its activity on human eosinophils and B cells.
Main Methods:
- Identification and characterization of a mouse lymphokine.
- Cloning and expression of the mouse and human IL5 genes.
- Assays to test the activity of murine and human IL5 on human eosinophils and B cells.
Main Results:
- Murine IL5 stimulated human eosinophil differentiation and activation but had no detectable activity on human B cells.
- Human IL5, following gene cloning and expression, also stimulated human eosinophil production and activation.
- Human IL5 demonstrated no activity on human B cells in various assays, contrasting with the activity of mouse IL5 on murine B cells.
Conclusions:
- Interleukin-5 (IL5) plays a significant role in eosinophil differentiation and activation in both mice and humans.
- Despite functional similarity in eosinophil activity, human IL5 lacks the B cell activity observed in mouse IL5, indicating species-specific differences in IL5 function.