Cutting edge: IL-4-mediated protection of primary B lymphocytes from apoptosis via Stat6-dependent regulation of glycolytic metabolism

Fay J. Dufort, Blair F. Bleiman, Maria R. Gumina, Derek Blair, Dean J. Wagner, Mary F. Roberts, Yousef Abu-Amer, Thomas C. Chiles

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

111 Scopus citations

Abstract

IL-4 prevents the death of naive B lymphocytes through the up-regulation of antiapoptotic proteins such as Bcl-xL. Despite studies implicating glucose utilization in growth factor-dependent survival of hemopoietic cells, the role of glucose energy metabolism in maintaining B cell viability by IL-4 is unknown. We show that IL-4 triggers glucose uptake, Glut1 expression, and glycolysis in splenic B cells; this is accompanied by increased cellular ATP. Glycolysis inhibition results in apoptosis, even in the presence of IL-4. IL-4-induced glycolysis occurs normally in B cells deficient in insulin receptor substrate-2 or the p85α subunit of PI3K and is not affected by pretreatment with PI3K or MAPK pathway inhibitors. Stat6-deficient B cells exhibit impaired IL-4-induced glycolysis. Cell-permeable, constitutively active Stat6 is effective in restoring IL-4-induced glycolysis in Stat6-deficient B cells. Therefore, besides controlling antiapoptotic proteins, IL-4 mediates B cell survival by regulating glucose energy metabolism via a Stat6-dependent pathway.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)4953-4957
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of Immunology
Volume179
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 15 2007

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