Contrasting effects of interleukin-4 on colony-stimulating factor and interleukin-6 synthesis by vascular endothelial cells.

Endothelial cells (EC) may regulate both local and systemic aspects of inflammation through the synthesis of cytokines such as granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). EC are known to synthesize these cytokines in response to interleukin-1 (IL-1 alpha), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In this paper, we illustrate the effect of interleukin-4 (IL-4) in reducing the synthesis of GM-CSF by EC stimulated with IL-1 alpha, TNF-alpha, or LPS. This is compared with the previously reported strong synergy between IL-4 and IL-1 alpha, TNF-alpha, or LPS in the synthesis of IL-6 by EC. No clear effect of IL-4 was seen in the synthesis of G-CSF or M-CSF. The range of concentrations of IL-4 at which these effects were seen was identical for both reduced GM-CSF synthesis and increased IL-6 synthesis. The effect of IL-4 on IL-6 synthesis was seen by 4 h of treatment, while that on GM-CSF was apparent between 4 and 8 h. It is suggested that these contrasting effects of IL-4 may reflect a biological role for this cytokine in the regulation of leukocytosis and the acute phase response.