IL-4, Porcine

Interleukin-4 (IL-4) is a pleiotropic cytokine regulates diverse T and B cell responses including cell proliferation, survival, and gene expression. It has important effects on the growth and differentiation of different immunologically competent cells. Interleukin-4 is produced by mast cells, T cells, and bone marrow stromal cells. IL-4 regulates the differentiation of native CD4+ T cells (Th0 cells) into helper Th2 cells, and regulates the immunoglobulin class switching to the IgG1 and IgE isotypes. IL-4 has numerous important biological functions including stimulating B-cells activation, T-cell proliferation and CD4+ T-cells differentiation to Th2 cells. It is a key regulator in hormone control and adaptive immunity. IL-4 also plays a major role in inflammation response and wound repair via activation of macrophage into M2 cells. IL-4 is stabilized by three disulphide bonds forming a compact globular protein structure. Four alpha-helix bundle with left-handed twist is dominated half of the protein structure with 2 overhand connections and fall into a 2-stranded anti-parallel beta sheet.