Interleukin 4 promotes anti-inflammatory macrophages that clear cartilage debris and inhibits osteoclast development to protect against osteoarthritis

CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate that IL-4 protects against osteoarthritis in a myeloid and STAT6-dependent manner. Further, IL-4 can promote an immunomodulatory microenvironment in which joint-resident macrophages polarize towards an M2 phenotype and efficiently clear pro-inflammatory debris, and osteoclasts maintain a homeostatic level of activity in subchondral bone. These findings support a role for IL-4 modulation of myeloid cell types in maintenance of joint health and identify a pathway that could provide therapeutic benefit for osteoarthritis.PMID:34126239 | DOI:10.1016/j.clim.2021.108784

Source: Clinical Immunology - June 14, 2021 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Ericka P von Kaeppler Qian Wang Harini Raghu Michelle S Bloom Heidi Wong William H Robinson Source Type: research