| First Author | Ugajin T | Year | 2015 |
| Journal | Mol Immunol | Volume | 66 |
| Issue | 2 | Pages | 180-8 |
| PubMed ID | 25801306 | Mgi Jnum | J:231708 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:5774622 | Doi | 10.1016/j.molimm.2015.03.002 |
| Citation | Ugajin T, et al. (2015) Zinc-binding metallothioneins are key modulators of IL-4 production by basophils. Mol Immunol 66(2):180-8 |
| abstractText | Zinc (Zn) is an essential nutrient, and Zn deficiency causes immunodeficiency and skin disorders. Basophils express FcvarepsilonRI on their surface and release multiple mediators after receptor cross-linking, including large amounts of IL-4. However, the mechanisms involved in the FcvarepsilonRI-mediated regulation of basophil IL-4 production are currently unclear. Here, we show that the Zn-binding metallothionein (MT) proteins are essential for the FcvarepsilonRI-induced basophil production of IL-4. Basophils from MT-I/II(-/-) mice produced significantly less FcvarepsilonRI-induced IL-4 than did wild-type basophils. The MTs were involved in maintaining intracellular Zn levels, thereby regulated the calcineurin activity and nuclear factor of activated T-cell (NFAT)-mediated IL-4 production. These results suggest that the MT-dependent control of Zn homeostasis is a novel mechanism for regulating basophil IL-4 production. |
