Interleukin-4 upregulates the heat shock protein Hsp90alpha and enhances transcription of a reporter gene coupled to a single heat shock element.

Transcription of the heat shock protein Hsp90alpha was strongly upregulated in human T-cells by interleukin-4 (IL-4) and to a lesser extent by IL-2, reaching peak levels after 2-3 days of stimulation. Heat shock proteins are induced within minutes under stress conditions, via heat shock factors (HSF), which activate heat shock elements (HSE). IL-4, IL-2 and IL-13 upregulated transcription of a reporter gene coupled to a single HSE site and a minimal promoter. HSE may therefore be involved in cytokine induced heat shock gene transcription in the absence of cellular stress.