TY - JOUR
T1 - Interleukin 4 production by human amnion epithelial cells and regulation of its activity by glycosaminoglycan binding
AU - Jones, C. A.
AU - Williams, K. A.
AU - Finlay-Jones, J. J.
AU - Hart, P. H.
PY - 1995/4/1
Y1 - 1995/4/1
N2 -
The pro-inflammatory molecules, tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), interleukin 1 (IL-1), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and prostaglandin E
2
(PGE
2
), are postulated to have a role in human pregnancy and parturition. The ability of interleukin 4 (IL-4) to suppress the production of TNFα, IL-1, IL-6, and PGE
2
by activated monocytes prompted us to investigate a possible regulatory role for IL-4 in human gestation. Immunohistochemical techniques were used to show that human amnion epithelium stained positively for IL-4. Tissue from both the first (n = 5) and third (n = 46) trimester expressed immunoreactive IL-4, which was detected by the use of four antihuman IL-4 monoclonal antibodies. Analysis of mRNA by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) on RNA extracts of amnion epithelial cells indicated that they were the source of IL-4. One of the anti-IL-4 antibodies used stained IL-4 protein associated with the basement membrane of the amnion epithelium. The mechanism of this association was investigated. IL-4 was shown to be a heparin-binding cytokine, which would enable it to bind to components of the extracellular matrix. Thus, this study identified a previously undescribed cellular source of IL-4, implicating a role for IL-4 in human gestation. Additionally, glycosaminoglycan binding may regulate IL-4 activity in vivo.
AB -
The pro-inflammatory molecules, tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), interleukin 1 (IL-1), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and prostaglandin E
2
(PGE
2
), are postulated to have a role in human pregnancy and parturition. The ability of interleukin 4 (IL-4) to suppress the production of TNFα, IL-1, IL-6, and PGE
2
by activated monocytes prompted us to investigate a possible regulatory role for IL-4 in human gestation. Immunohistochemical techniques were used to show that human amnion epithelium stained positively for IL-4. Tissue from both the first (n = 5) and third (n = 46) trimester expressed immunoreactive IL-4, which was detected by the use of four antihuman IL-4 monoclonal antibodies. Analysis of mRNA by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) on RNA extracts of amnion epithelial cells indicated that they were the source of IL-4. One of the anti-IL-4 antibodies used stained IL-4 protein associated with the basement membrane of the amnion epithelium. The mechanism of this association was investigated. IL-4 was shown to be a heparin-binding cytokine, which would enable it to bind to components of the extracellular matrix. Thus, this study identified a previously undescribed cellular source of IL-4, implicating a role for IL-4 in human gestation. Additionally, glycosaminoglycan binding may regulate IL-4 activity in vivo.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0028922284&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1095/biolreprod52.4.839
DO - 10.1095/biolreprod52.4.839
M3 - Article
C2 - 7780006
AN - SCOPUS:0028922284
SN - 0006-3363
VL - 52
SP - 839
EP - 847
JO - Biology of Reproduction
JF - Biology of Reproduction
IS - 4
ER -