Molecular mechanisms of interleukin-4 production

The mechanisms responsible for differential cytokine expression in T helper (Th) cell subsets are still elusive. Nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT)-1 has been involved in activation of the interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-4 genes, which are expressed by Th1 and Th2 cells, respectively. On the other hand, we have identified two factors having opposite effects on the transcription of the IL-2 and IL-4 genes in the human T cell line Jurkat: nuclear factor (NF)-kB and CCAAT-binding protein (CP)2. We postulate that NF- kB and CP2 play important roles in differential cytokine display in Th cells and might be involved in the regulation of IL-4 expression in health and disease.