LYMPHOKINE AND CYTOKINE PRODUCTION BY FC-EPSILON-RI(+) CELLS

This chapter discusses the growing information on production of interleukin-4 (IL-4) and of a set of related lymphokines, such as IL-3, IL-5, and granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) by mast cells and other FcεRI+ cells as well as production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), IL-6, IL-1, and IL-8 and its congeners by these cells. It discusses the pathophysiologic conditions in which lymphokine production by FcεRI+ cells is increased and the signaling mechanisms employed by FcεRI+ cells that lead to lymphokine production. Lymphokines and cytokines mediate a wide range of biologic functions. They are responsible for much of the regulatory activity of T cells and have potent pro- and anti-inflammatory properties. Mast cells and basophils are cell types that have two major phenotypic properties in common. They both store histamine and both express high-affinity FcεR, called FcεRI. The chapter establishes that transformed mast cells, factor dependent mast cells, and freshly isolated FcεRI+ cells all have the capacity to produce lymphokines and cytokines. In particular, the set of molecules produced by these cells, including IL-4, IL-3, GM-CSF, and IL-5, as well as IL-1, IL-6, TNF-a, and IL-8, have very important roles in the regulation of inflammatory responses. It is particularly striking that the lymphokines produced have potential roles in immunologically important responses, most notably in orchestrating the events associated with allergic inflammation. © 1993, Academic Press Inc. All rights reserved.