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Published on: April 8, 2016
Expression of IL-4 receptor on human T and B lymphocytes
1Department of Clinical Immunology, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, Australia.
Insights
Interleukin-4 receptor (IL-4R) is expressed on a subset of human B cells, but not T cells. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells frequently express IL-4R, unlike most other leukemias.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Hematology
Background:
- The interleukin-4 receptor (IL-4R) plays a crucial role in immune responses.
- Understanding IL-4R expression on human lymphocytes is key to deciphering immune cell function and regulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression of IL-4R on human blood and tonsil lymphocytes.
- To characterize IL-4R expression on different lymphocyte subsets and in various leukemia types.
Main Methods:
- Utilized high-sensitivity immunofluorescence flow cytometry with a specific monoclonal antibody.
- Analyzed receptor expression on circulating and tonsil lymphocytes (T cells and B cells).
- Examined IL-4R expression on lymphocytes following activation with various stimuli and in leukemia samples.
Main Results:
- IL-4R was not detected on circulating or tonsil T cells.
- A subset of B cells, including germinal center and non-germinal center B cells, expressed IL-4R.
- CD23-positive B cells in blood expressed IL-4R; activation modestly increased IL-4R expression on B and T cells.
- Most chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) samples were IL-4R positive, while other leukemias were mostly negative.
Conclusions:
- IL-4R expression is largely restricted to a subset of human B lymphocytes.
- IL-4R is frequently expressed on chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells, suggesting potential diagnostic or therapeutic relevance.
- Activation leads to minor increases in IL-4R expression compared to known activation markers.
Abstract:
The expression of the interleukin-4 receptor on human blood and tonsil lymphocytes has been studied using a monoclonal antibody and high-sensitivity immunofluorescence flow cytometry. While no receptor expression could be detected on circulating or tonsil T cells, a subset of B cells was shown to express the receptor. The IL-4R-positive B cells in tonsil had a phenotype suggesting that they included both germinal centre B cells and B cells outside the germinal centre. The subset of B cells in the blood that expressed the receptor included CD23-positive B cells. Activation of tonsil B cells using anti-IgM, IL-4, IL-2, or combinations of these reagents led to increases in IL-4R expression, but these changes were small compared to changes in the expression of IL-2R p55 (CD25), a known marker of activation. Similarly, activation of T cells led to low-level expression of IL-4R, with IL-4 itself up-regulating IL-4R, especially in CD4 cells. The majority of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia samples were positive for IL-4R expression, whilst most other leukemic samples were negative.
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