[The inductive effect of interleukin 4 on IgG4 and IgE synthesis in human peripheral blood lymphocytes].

Using murine monoclonal antibodies against human IgG subclasses, specific and sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to quantitate the four human IgG subclasses in cell culture supernatants were established. The effect of human recombinant interleukin-4 (IL4) on the synthesis of IgG subclasses by normal peripheral blood lymphocytes was investigated. The IL4 preferentially induced IgG4 synthesis and IgE as well in vitro, whereas it had no effect on IgG1, IgG2 and IgG3 synthesis. The IL4-induced IgG4 and IgE production was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by recombinant interferon-gamma and anti-human IL4 monoclonal antibody, respectively. Collectively, these data indicate that IL4 plays an important regulatory role in both IgG subclass and IgE synthesis.