How IL-4 suppresses TNF and IL-1 production by activated human monocytes and macrophages

Funded Activity Summary

Chronic inflammatory diseases are an enormous and growing health problem. There is a continuing search for improved and more targeted treatments. We have been studying a cytokine called interleukin-4 which can suppress the production by blood cells of many of the inflammatory mediators that initiate and maintain inflammation. With the recognition that interleukin-4 has this anti-inflammatory activity on blood cells, there was considerable optimism that this molecule may not only be a natural regulator of inflammation but also used in immunotherapy. However we do not know how this molecule downregulates inflammatory blood cells. It will be necessary to know this if it is to be used in human gene therapy for treatment of inflammatory diseases. Cells must be activated before a molecule which is anti-inflammatory can be effective. Different cell types from different inflammatory sites will be studied to better characterise different activation pathways. How interleukin-4 regulates these pathways will be studied. Once identified, treatments based on the properties of interleukin-4 may be designed-optimised.

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 01-01-2004

End Date: 01-01-2006

Funding Scheme: NHMRC Project Grants

Funding Amount: $432,750.00

Funder: National Health and Medical Research Council

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

Clinical chemistry (incl. diagnostics)

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

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Other Keywords

arthritis | cytokine regulation | cytokines | immune-mediated inflammation | inflammation | inflammatory mediators | interleukin-4 | modulation of cytokine networks | monocyte/macrophage differentiation | rheumatoid arthritis and therapy

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