IL-4 directly signals tissue-resident macrophages to proliferate beyond homeostatic levels controlled by CSF-1.

ABSTRACT: Macrophages (MΦs) colonize tissues during inflammation in two distinct ways: recruitment of monocyte precursors and proliferation of resident cells. We recently revealed a major role for IL-4 in the proliferative expansion of resident MΦs during a Th2-biased tissue nematode infection. We now show that proliferation of MΦs during intestinal as well as tissue nematode infection is restricted to sites of IL-4 production and requires MΦ-intrinsic IL-4R signaling. However, both IL-4Rα-dependent and -independent mechanisms contributed to MΦ proliferation during nematode infections. IL-4R-independent proliferation was controlled by a rise in local CSF-1 levels, but IL-4Rα expression conferred a competitive advantage with higher and more sustained proliferation and increased accumulation of IL-4Rα

SUBMITTER: Jenkins SJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3804948 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature