Abstract
Thymosin beta 4 (Tβ4) is the major G-actin sequestering molecule and is abundant in lymphoid tissues. However, it is not clear what regulates Tβ4 expression and what its function is on natural killer (NK) cells. We investigated whether interleukin-18 (IL-18) has a role in Tβ4 expression and if enhanced Tβ4 influences IL-18-mediated interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) secretion. In this study, recombinant human IL-18 (rhIL-18) enhanced the endogenous level of Tβ4 through p38MAPK and JNK signaling pathway in the human NK cell line, NK-92MI. Overexpression of endogeneous Tβ4 stimulated IFN-γ expression and secretion. Additionally, pretreatment with an inhibitor for Tβ4 decreased IL-18-enhanced IFN-γ secretion, and transfection with Tβ4-specific short hairpin RNA resulted in reduction of IFN-γ production in primary NK cells as well as in the human NK cell line. Taken together, these data indicated that Tβ4 is regulated by IL-18 and is involved in IL-18-enhanced IFN-γ secretion in NK cells.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1155-1162 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Immunobiology |
Volume | 216 |
Issue number | 10 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2011 Oct |
Keywords
- Interferon-gamma
- Interleukin-18
- Natural killer cells
- Thymosin beta 4
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology and Allergy
- Immunology
- Hematology