title: Stimulatory and inhibitory effects of cyclic AMP on lymphocytes from atopic children.
abstract: The effect of cholera toxin and dibutyryl cAMP on mitogen-activated lymphocytes from atopic and non-atopic individuals was studied. Cholera toxin enhanced stimulation by phytohemagglutinin of cells from small children but not from adults. Dibutyryl cAMP at low concentration (less than 10(-5) M) significantly enhanced the lymphocyte response to mitogens in some, but not all individuals. High concentrations, on the other hand, were consistently inhibitory. In atopic children, the lymphocyte response to T cell mitogen was significantly less stimulated by cholera toxin, and more inhibited by dibutyryl cAMP than the response of cells from non-atopic matched controls. Thus, T cells from atopic individuals appear to have an altered sensitivity to the action of cAMP, possibly resulting in an impaired balance between helper and suppressor T cells. The hypothesis is advanced, that such an altered balance is causally related to hyperproduction of IgE resulting in atopic disease.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003994:Bucladesine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002772:Cholera Toxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D003994:Bucladesine; D002772:Cholera Toxin; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate