IL-4 dependent alternatively-activated macrophages have a distinctive in vivo gene expression phenotype.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:"Alternatively-activated" macrophages are found in Th2-mediated inflammatory settings such as nematode infection and allergic pulmonary inflammation. Due in part to a lack of markers, these cells have not been well characterized in vivo and their function remains unknown. RESULTS:We have used murine macrophages elicited by nematode infection (NeM(phi)) as a source of in vivo derived alternatively activated macrophages. Using three distinct yet complementary molecular approaches we have established a gene expression profile of alternatively activated macrophages and identified macrophage genes that are regulated in vivo by IL-4. First, genes abundantly expressed were identified by an expressed sequence tag strategy. Second, an array of 1176 known mouse genes was screened for diff

SUBMITTER: Loke P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC117781 | biostudies-literature | 2002 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature