Recent attention has focused on the T helper type 2 (Th2) lymphocyte as a source of interleukin 4 (IL-4) in allergic disease. However, Th2 cells themselves require a pulse of IL-4 to initiate this synthesis. Here we provide immunohistochemical evidence of IL-4 localization to human mast cells of the skin and respiratory tract, and demonstrate that immunoglobulin E-dependent stimulation of purified human lung mast cells leads to the rapid release of IL-4 into the extracellular environment. We propose that mast cell activation in an allergic response provides a rapid and local pulse of IL-4 into the local environment essential for the triggering of T lymphocytes into sustained IL-4 production and to initiate inflammatory cell accumulation and activation.
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1 November 1992
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November 01 1992
Interleukin 4 is localized to and released by human mast cells.
P Bradding,
P Bradding
Immunopharmacology Group, Medicine I, Southampton General Hospital, United Kingdom.
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I H Feather,
I H Feather
Immunopharmacology Group, Medicine I, Southampton General Hospital, United Kingdom.
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P H Howarth,
P H Howarth
Immunopharmacology Group, Medicine I, Southampton General Hospital, United Kingdom.
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R Mueller,
R Mueller
Immunopharmacology Group, Medicine I, Southampton General Hospital, United Kingdom.
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J A Roberts,
J A Roberts
Immunopharmacology Group, Medicine I, Southampton General Hospital, United Kingdom.
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K Britten,
K Britten
Immunopharmacology Group, Medicine I, Southampton General Hospital, United Kingdom.
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J P Bews,
J P Bews
Immunopharmacology Group, Medicine I, Southampton General Hospital, United Kingdom.
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T C Hunt,
T C Hunt
Immunopharmacology Group, Medicine I, Southampton General Hospital, United Kingdom.
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Y Okayama,
Y Okayama
Immunopharmacology Group, Medicine I, Southampton General Hospital, United Kingdom.
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C H Heusser
C H Heusser
Immunopharmacology Group, Medicine I, Southampton General Hospital, United Kingdom.
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P Bradding
Immunopharmacology Group, Medicine I, Southampton General Hospital, United Kingdom.
I H Feather
Immunopharmacology Group, Medicine I, Southampton General Hospital, United Kingdom.
P H Howarth
Immunopharmacology Group, Medicine I, Southampton General Hospital, United Kingdom.
R Mueller
Immunopharmacology Group, Medicine I, Southampton General Hospital, United Kingdom.
J A Roberts
Immunopharmacology Group, Medicine I, Southampton General Hospital, United Kingdom.
K Britten
Immunopharmacology Group, Medicine I, Southampton General Hospital, United Kingdom.
J P Bews
Immunopharmacology Group, Medicine I, Southampton General Hospital, United Kingdom.
T C Hunt
Immunopharmacology Group, Medicine I, Southampton General Hospital, United Kingdom.
Y Okayama
Immunopharmacology Group, Medicine I, Southampton General Hospital, United Kingdom.
C H Heusser
Immunopharmacology Group, Medicine I, Southampton General Hospital, United Kingdom.
Online ISSN: 1540-9538
Print ISSN: 0022-1007
J Exp Med (1992) 176 (5): 1381–1386.
Citation
P Bradding, I H Feather, P H Howarth, R Mueller, J A Roberts, K Britten, J P Bews, T C Hunt, Y Okayama, C H Heusser; Interleukin 4 is localized to and released by human mast cells.. J Exp Med 1 November 1992; 176 (5): 1381–1386. doi: https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.176.5.1381
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