title: Effects of sex steroids on immunoglobulin M production by Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B-cell line SKW6-CL4.
abstract: The effects of estradiol (E2), progesterone (P), and testosterone (T) on the production of immunoglobulin (Ig) M by Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B-cell line, SKW6-CL4, were investigated. Interleukin 6 (IL-6) induced IgM production by SKW6-CL4 cells in a dose-dependent manner without any significant increase in thymidine incorporation. E2 at concentrations ranging from 10(-10) to 10(-9) M enhanced IL-6-induced IgM production by SKW6-CL4 cells, whereas E2 at a high concentration of 10(-7) M inhibited both the IgM production and the growth of SKW6-CL4 cells. Time-course studies revealed that E2 acts in the early phase of differentiation of SKW6-CL4 cells in response to IL-6. On the other hand, P and T at physiological and superphysiological levels did not influence either the IgM production or the proliferation of SKW6-CL4 cells. These findings suggest a direct immunoregulatory effect of E2 on human B lineage cells and support the concept that E2 may have a role in the pathogenesis of some autoimmune diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gifu University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sawairi
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Itoh
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hanabayashi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tamaya
mesh_terms: D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000378:metabolism*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000494:pharmacology; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014316:Tritium
chemical_list: D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014316:Tritium; D013739:Testosterone; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D013936:Thymidine