Contribution of interleukin‐3 to antigen‐induced Th2 cytokine production

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Abstract
Short‐term stimulation of mouse spleen cells in vitro with interleukin (IL)‐3 induces the secretion of the Th2 cytokines IL‐4 and IL‐6. Non‐B/non‐T cells were the target of this IL‐3 effect. However, during long‐term antigen‐dependent culture, T cells are the major source of IL‐4 and IL‐6. The addition of IL‐3 to such cultures also led to a significant increase in IL‐4 and IL‐6 production. This Th2 cytokine secretion was amplified by the addition of irradiated non‐B/non‐T cells at the initiation of culture, and was inhibited by anti‐IL‐4 antibodies. These findings suggest that IL‐3 induces the rapid release of IL‐4 and IL‐6 by non‐B/non‐T cells, thereby creating an immune milieu conducive to the development of antigen‐specific IL‐4 and IL‐6‐secreting Th2 cells.

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