Cytokine-independent progression of immunoglobulin production in vitro by B lymphocytes from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
B lymphocytes from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) secreted high levels of immunoglobulin spontaneously when cultured in vitro. Addition of the cytokines interleukin-2, interleukin-4 and interleukin-6 either alone or in combination failed to augment spontaneous immunoglobulin synthesis. Percoll-separated low-density SLE B lymphocytes matured into immunoglobulin-secreting cells also independent of exogenous interleukins. During maturation these cells became enlarged and less dense, and began to express CD23. This was in contrast to normal B cells, which did not secrete immunoglobulin spontaneously but synthesized IgM after interleukin stimulation. These results indicate that in vitro immunoglobulin synthesis by SLE B cells is already initiated in these cells and progresses independently of further stimulatory manoeuvres.
Pelton
B K
BK
Division of Immunological Medicine, Clinical Research Centre, Harrow, England.
Speckmaier
M
M
Hylton
W
W
Farrant
J
J
Denman
A M
AM
D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology*; D011961:Receptors, Fc / Q000032:analysis; D017455:Receptors, IgE
D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015850:Interleukin-6; D011961:Receptors, Fc; D017455:Receptors, IgE; D015847:Interleukin-4