IL-4 protects cells from apoptosis via the insulin receptor substrate pathway and a second independent signaling pathway.

Although it has been known for some time that IL-4 protects cells from death via apoptosis, very little is known about the mechanism by which IL-4 exerts this effect. In this report, we have studied the molecular mechanisms of the IL-4-induced prevention of apoptosis in the 32D and B cell systems. IL-3 withdrawal has been shown to induce G1-arrest in 32D cells and subsequent death by apoptosis. We found that overexpression of IRS-1 protected 32D cells from death induced by IL-3 deprivation. IL-4 was able to protect 32D cells from apoptosis in the presence or absence of IRS-1. However, the protection from apoptosis of cells cultured in IL-4 was greater in the presence of IRS-1 and it reached levels comparable to those of cells cultured in IL-3. The IRS-1-dependent prevention of apoptosis is linked to the activation of PI 3'-kinase since wortmannin and LY294002, two inhibitors of PI 3'-K, partially inhibited the prevention of apoptosis mediated by IL-4 in 32D-IRS-1 cells after IL-3 withdrawal but not in 32D cells lacking IRS-1 expression. In addition, we found that the IRS/PI 3'-K pathway is, at least in part, responsible for the prevention of apoptosis by IL-4 in normal splenic B cell cultures. In spite of the ability of murine IL-4 to partially protect 32D cells lacking IRS-1 from apoptosis, human IL-4 was not able to prevent cell death in 32D-IRS-1 cells transfected with the human IL-4 receptor mutated in the insulin-lL-4 receptor motif (14R-motif) at amino acid 497 (Y497F). This mutation has previously been shown to abrogate the tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1 by human IL-4. These results demonstrate that IL-4 protects 32D cells from apoptosis by two different pathways, one of them mediated by IRS-1. In addition, these results suggest that the 14R-motif of the IL-4R is linked to both pathways.