interleukin-4

[Haematologica] To understand if polarization of macrophages can lead to a procoagulant macrophage subset researchers polarized human monocyte derived macrophages to a proinflammatory and an alternative activation state.

[Experimental Physiology] Investigators examined the effects of human amniotic membrane MSCs‐conditioned medium on ovalbumin (OVA)‐induced asthma. 48 hours after the last challenge, serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid samples were collected and used for evaluation of inflammatory factors and cells, respectively.

[Immunity] The mechanisms by which regulatory T (Treg) cells differentially control allergic and autoimmune responses remain unclear. Researchers showed that Treg cells in food allergy had decreased expression of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) because of interleukin-4- and signal transducer and activator of transciription-6-dependent inhibition of Tgfb1 transcription.

[Nature] The authors showed that depletion of transforming growth factor-β receptor 2 (TGFβR2) in CD4+ T cells, but not CD8+ T cells, halts cancer progression as a result of tissue healing and remodeling of the blood vasculature, causing cancer cell hypoxia and death in distant avascular regions.

[Nature] Following the finding that transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) suppresses T helper 2 (TH2)-cell-mediated cancer immunity, scientists showed that blocking TGF-β signalling in CD4+ T cells remodels the tumour microenvironment and restrains cancer progression.

Investigators demonstrated that the profibrotic cytokine transforming growth factor β selectively up-regulated fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) and its ligand FGF9 to promote fibroblast activation and tissue fibrosis, leading to a prominent FGFR3 signature in the systemic sclerosis skin.