IL-4 is produced mainly by activated TH2 cells and, to a lesser extent, by Tʜ1 cells. It binds to the IL-4 receptor α (CD124), followed by the dimerization with other receptor chains to generate type 1 and type 2 receptors. IL-4 promotes the proliferation and differentiation of activated B cells and the expression of MHC class II antigens. Mature rat IL-4 shares 59% aa sequence identity with mouse IL-4.