Description
Interleukin4 (IL4), also known as B cellstimulatory factor1, is a monomeric, approximately 13 kDa 18 kDa Th2 cytokine that shows pleiotropic effects during immune responses. It is a glycosylated polypeptide that contains three intrachain disulfide bridges and adopts a bundled four µhelix structure. IL4 is primarily expressed by Th2biased CD4+ T cells, mast cells, basophils, and eosinophils. It promotes cell proliferation, survival, and immunoglobulin class switch to IgG4 and IgE in human B cells, acquisition of the Th2 phenotype by naïve CD4+ T cells, priming and chemotaxis of mast cells, eosinophils, and basophils, and the proliferation and activation of epithelial cells. IL4 plays a dominant role in the development of allergic inflammation and asthma