Ly-1 B (B-1) cells are the main source of B cell-derived interleukin 10.
We have previously reported (O'Garra, A. et al., Int. Immunol. 1990, 2:821) that murine B lymphomas and purified normal peritoneal B cells produce interleukin (IL) 10. We now show that this production of IL 10 B cells correlates with the presence of Ly-1 (B-1) B cells, in both normal and diseased mice. Using a semi-quantitative modification of the polymerase chain reaction, we show that IL 10 expression is detectable in peritoneal B cells but only becomes apparent in splenic B cells of aged mice of which a high proportion are Ly-1+. Furthermore, the expression of IL 10 is constitutive in splenic B cells from mice carrying the Ly-1+ BCL1 lymphoma. Since IL 10 is a potent regulator of in vitro immune function, its production by Ly-1 lineage B (B-1) cells raises the possibility that this subset of B cells may regulate their own development and/or the function of other immunocompetent cells.
O'Garra
A
A
DNAX Research Institute, Palo Alto, CA 94304.
Chang
R
R
Go
N
N
Hastings
R
R
Haughton
G
G
Howard
M
M
D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D001483:Base Sequence; D005260:Female; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000032:analysis; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D013154:Spleen / Q000737:chemistry
D016753:Interleukin-10; D007371:Interferon-gamma