Functions
It has many biological roles, including the stimulation of activated B-cell and T-cell proliferation, and the differentiation B cells into Plasma Cells.
It is a key regulator in humoral and adaptive immunity.
IL-4 induces B-cell class switching to IgE, and up-regulates MHC class II production. It also induces B cell class switching to IgG4.
IL-4 decreases the production of Th1 cells, macrophages, IFN-gamma, and dendritic cell IL-12.
Overproduction of IL-4 is associated with allergies.
Read more about this topic: Interleukin 4
Famous quotes containing the word functions:
“Mark the babe
Not long accustomed to this breathing world;
One that hath barely learned to shape a smile,
Though yet irrational of soul, to grasp
With tiny finger—to let fall a tear;
And, as the heavy cloud of sleep dissolves,
To stretch his limbs, bemocking, as might seem,
The outward functions of intelligent man.”
—William Wordsworth (1770–1850)
“Adolescents, for all their self-involvement, are emerging from the self-centeredness of childhood. Their perception of other people has more depth. They are better equipped at appreciating others’ reasons for action, or the basis of others’ emotions. But this maturity functions in a piecemeal fashion. They show more understanding of their friends, but not of their teachers.”
—Terri Apter (20th century)
“If photography is allowed to stand in for art in some of its functions it will soon supplant or corrupt it completely thanks to the natural support it will find in the stupidity of the multitude. It must return to its real task, which is to be the servant of the sciences and the arts, but the very humble servant, like printing and shorthand which have neither created nor supplanted literature.”
—Charles Baudelaire (1821–1867)