Description
IL-4 is a pleiotropic cytokine produced by activated Th2 cells and mast cells, and plays a pivotal role in immune responses. The effects of IL-4 are mediated after binding to high affinity receptor complexes present on hematopoietic as well as non-hematopoietic cells. Hematopoietic cellular responses to IL-4 are mediated by a high affinity receptor complex comprised of the 140 kDa IL4Rα (CD124)subunit and the 70 kDa common cytokine γc chain (CD132). Interleukin 4 Receptor (IL4R) also known as CD124, IL4Rα and BSF receptor, is a type I cytokine receptor produced by activated Th2 cells and mast cells, and plays an important role in Th2--biased immune responses, alternative macrophage activation, mucosal immunity, allergic inflammation, tumor progression, and atherogenesis. A soluble form of the encoded IL4R protein can be produced by an alternate splice variant or by proteolysis of the membrane-bound protein, and this soluble form can inhibit IL4-mediated cell proliferation and IL5 upregulation by T-cells. IL4R can alternatively associate with IL-13Ra1 to form the type II receptor which is responsive to both IL-4 and IL-13. Interleukin-4 receptor has been shown to interact with SHC1