IL-4 alters expression patterns of storage components of vascular endothelial cell-specific granules through STAT6- and SOCS-1-dependent mechanisms

Mol Immunol. 2009 Jun;46(10):2080-9. doi: 10.1016/j.molimm.2009.02.015. Epub 2009 May 5.

Abstract

IL-4 develops Th2-biased immunity or allergic inflammation through activation of STAT6-dependent signaling. In vascular endothelial cells (ECs), IL-4 elicits regulatory effects on chemokine production and adhesion molecule expression to recruit T cells and eosinophils. In this study, we examined how IL-4 affects Weibel-Palade bodies (WPBs), EC-specific storage granules capable to store multiple protein components, including von Willebrand factor (vWF), P-selectin, eotaxin-3, IL-8 and angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2). Among 11 WPB component genes that we examined, IL-4 potently upregulated the expression levels of P-selectin and eotaxin-3, whereas it downregulated the expression levels of IL-8 and Ang-2. Both regulatory effects were dependent on STAT6. In addition, the IL-4-induced downregulatory effect on WPB component genes depended on the negative feedback regulation by SOCS-1 induced by STAT6 signaling. Furthermore, IL-4-regulated gene expression through STAT6 and SOCS-1 was consistent with WPB compositional changes in cultivated ECs and capillary-like tube networks. Since WPBs enable ECs to rapidly regulate multiple critical functions of vasculatures, IL-4-induced alteration of expression patterns of WPB storage components may convert the physiological functions of WPBs into Th2-biased immune functions or allergic functions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Endothelial Cells / cytology
  • Endothelial Cells / drug effects
  • Endothelial Cells / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects*
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-4 / pharmacology*
  • Organ Specificity
  • P-Selectin / metabolism
  • STAT6 Transcription Factor / metabolism*
  • Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 1 Protein
  • Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins / metabolism*
  • Weibel-Palade Bodies / drug effects*
  • Weibel-Palade Bodies / genetics*

Substances

  • P-Selectin
  • SOCS1 protein, human
  • STAT6 Transcription Factor
  • STAT6 protein, human
  • Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 1 Protein
  • Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins
  • Interleukin-4