Interleukin 4 (IL4)

Interleukin 4 is a pleiotropic cytokine produced primarily by activated T lymphocytes,mast cells and basophils . IL-4 has multiple immune response-modulating functions on a variety of cell types.

It is an important modulator of the differentiation of precursor T helper cells to the Th2 subset that mediates humoral immunity and modulates antibody production. In addition, IL-4 has also been shown to have anti-tumor activity both in vivoand in vitro.The biological effects of IL-4 are mediated by specific cell surface receptor complexes. One type of functional IL-4 receptor complex consists of the IL-4-binding subunit and a second chain, designated the common c chain because it has also been identified as a component of the receptor complexes for IL-4, IL-7, IL-9 and IL-15.