| First Author | Fallon PG | Year | 2002 |
| Journal | Immunity | Volume | 17 |
| Issue | 1 | Pages | 7-17 |
| PubMed ID | 12150887 | Mgi Jnum | J:113543 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:3686939 | Doi | 10.1016/s1074-7613(02)00332-1 |
| Citation | Fallon PG, et al. (2002) IL-4 induces characteristic Th2 responses even in the combined absence of IL-5, IL-9, and IL-13. Immunity 17(1):7-17 |
| abstractText | Functional redundancy is highly prevalent among the Th2 interleukins (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-9, and IL-13. To define the critical functions of these cytokines, we have generated a novel panel of compound Th2 cytokine-deficient mice (from single to quadruple cytokine knockouts). We find that these Th2 cytokines are not essential for fetal survival even during allogeneic pregnancy. Using intestinal parasite infection and a pulmonary granuloma model, we demonstrate cryptic roles for IL-4, IL-5, IL-9, and IL-13 in these responses. Significantly, although IL-5, IL-9, and IL-13 add to the speed and magnitude of the response, a threshold is reached at which IL-4 alone can activate all Th2 effector functions. These mice reveal distinct spatial, temporal, and hierarchical cytokine requirements in immune function. |
