The protein encoded by this gene is a pleiotropic cytokine produced by activated T cells. This cytokine is a ligand for interleukin 4 receptor. The interleukin 4 receptor also binds to IL13, which may contribute to many overlapping functions of this cytokine and IL13. STAT6, a signal transducer and activator of transcription, has been shown to play a central role in mediating the immune regulatory signal of this cytokine. This gene, IL3, IL5, IL13, and CSF2 form a cytokine gene cluster on chromosome 5q, with this gene particularly close to IL13. This gene, IL13 and IL5 are found to be regulated coordinately by several long-range regulatory elements in an over 120 kilobase range on the chromosome. IL4 is considered an important cytokine for tissue repair, counterbalancing the effects of proinflammatory type 1 cytokines, however, it also promotes allergic airway inflammation. Moreover, IL-4, a type 2 cytokine, mediates and regulates a variety of human host responses such as allergic, anti-parasitic, wound healing, and acute inflammation. This cytokine has been reported to promote resolution of neutrophil-mediated acute lung injury. In an allergic response, IL-4 has an essential role in the production of allergen-specific immunoglobin (Ig) E. This pro-inflammatory cytokine has been observed to be increased in COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease 2019) patients, but is not necessarily associated with severe COVID-19 pathology. Two alternatively spliced transcript variants of this gene encoding distinct isoforms have been reported.
Background References
1. Nguyen JK. et. al. The IL-4/IL-13 axis in skin fibrosis and scarring: mechanistic concepts and therapeutic targets. Arch Dermatol Res. 2020 Mar
2. Matsunaga MC. et. al. IL-4 and IL-13 Inhibition in Atopic Dermatitis. J Drugs Dermatol. 2016 Aug
Indirect ELISA analysis of IL-4 was performed by coating wells of a 96-well plate with 50 µl per well of IL-4 antigen diluted in carbonate/bicarbonate buffer, at a concentration of 1 µg/mL overnight at 4℃. Wells of the plate were washed, blocked with StartingBlock blocking buffer, and incubated with 50 µl per well of a mouse IL-4 monoclonal antibody starting at a concentration of 20 µg/mL and serially diluting it to a concentration of 1.28 ng/mL for 2 hours at room temperature. The plate was washed and incubated with 50 µl per well of an HRP-conjugated goat anti-mouse IgG secondary antibody at a dilution of 1:10,000 for one hour at room temperature. Detection was performed using an Ultra TMB Substrate for 5 minutes at room temperature in the dark. The reaction was stopped with sulfuric acid and absorbances were read on a spectrophotometer at 450 nm.
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