Interleukin 4 induces cultured monocytes/macrophages to form giant multinucleated cells

• Published in: The Journal of experimental medicine Vol. 167; no. 2; pp. 598 - 611
• Main Authors: McInnes, A, Rennick, D M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States The Rockefeller University Press 01-02-1988
• Subjects: Animals; Bone Marrow Cells; Cell Aggregation - drug effects; Cell Fusion - drug effects; Cell Migration Inhibition; Cell Nucleus - drug effects; Cell Nucleus - physiology; Cells, Cultured; Growth Inhibitors - pharmacology; Interleukin-3 - pharmacology; Interleukin-4; Interleukins - pharmacology; Macrophages - drug effects; Macrophages - physiology; Mice; Mice, Inbred CBA; Monocytes - drug effects; Monocytes - physiology; Stem Cells - drug effects; Stem Cells - physiology; Suspensions
• ISSN: 0022-1007; 1540-9538
• DOI: 10.1084/jem.167.2.598

Giant multinucleated cells (GMCs) are associated with granulomatous lesions that form in response to various infectious and noninfectious agents. The present study shows that mouse IL-4 induces the in vitro formation of GMCs by factor-dependent bone marrow and alveolar monocytes via cell fusion. GMCs appear 2 d after incubation of cell cultures with 20 U/ml or more of IL-4. Anti-IL-4 mAbs block the appearance of GMCs in these cultures, indicating that IL-4 acts directly on monocytes to promote fusion and does not secondarily induce the production of other soluble fusion factors. In soft agar cultures, IL-4 also causes the aggregation of macrophages and diminishes their migration. The role of IL-4 in a granulomatous inflammatory response is discussed.