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Interleukin-4 and breast cancer

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Abstract

IL-4 is a pleiotropic cytokine produced by T lymphocytes which acts on various cells of such as T and B lymphocytes, monocytes, fibroblast, endothelial cells, macrophages and some others. IL-4 was originary described as a B cell growth factor, and now known to provide potent anti-tumor activity against various tumors, including breast cancer. IL-4 can induce apoptosis in cultured breast cancer cells. In addtion, it has been clarified that IL-4 plays an important role in the regulation of estrogen synthesis enzymes including 17 β-HSD and 3 β-HSD. These findings imply that IL-4 is a key enzyme not only for Th2 type immune reactions but also for tumor cell growth itself in human breast cancer.

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Abbreviations

IL:

Interleukin

TNF:

Tumor necrosis factor

IFN:

Interferon

TCR:

T cell receptor

TGF:

Transforming growth factor

IGF:

Insulin-like growth factor

IRS:

Insulin receptor substrate

ICAM:

Intercellular adhesion molecule

VCAM:

Vascular cell adhesion molecule

ELAM:

E-selectin

VEGF:

Vascular endothelial cell growth factor

HSD:

Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase

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  1. Department of Surgery, Tokyo Metropolitan Komagome Hospital, Tokyo

    Shigenori Nagai & Masakazu Toi

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  1. Shigenori Nagai
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  2. Masakazu Toi
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Nagai, S., Toi, M. Interleukin-4 and breast cancer. Breast Cancer 7, 181–186 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02967457

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