title: Characterization of IL-6 production by B cells.
abstract: IL-6 production by antigen-specific and antigen-non-specific B cells was studied. It was found that low concentrations of antigen (0.001 micrograms/ml) could stimulate IL-6 production by antigen-specific B cells (10(3)-10(4) fold lower concentration of antigen when compared with that of antigen-nonspecific B cells). A kinetic study showed that IL-6 activity in supernatants from antigen-specific B cells was detectable as early as 2 hours. The production of IL-6 by non-specific B cells and by monocytes was distinctly different. These results suggest that antigen-specific B cells may play a critical role in early T cell activation by antigen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, West China University of Medical Sciences, Chengdu.
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Yin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D011817:Rabbits; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000939:Epitopes; D015850:Interleukin-6; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid