title: Human natural killer clones enhance in vitro antibody production by tumour necrosis factor alpha and gamma interferon.
abstract: To determine whether NK cells are involved in the regulation of the antibody response, we studied the effects of human NK clones on B-cell growth and differentiation and the mechanisms involved. We demonstrate that various human NK clones enhance the immunoglobulin production of SAC/rIL-2-activated B cells, e.g. IgG and IgM by up to 230% and anti-tetanus toxoid antibodies by up to 430%. Cell-cell interactions via cell-surface structures, e.g. the CD11a/CD18 molecule, were found to be critical. Subsequently the NK-mediated B-cell regulation involves cytokines, since cell-free supernatants obtained by 48-h cultures of NK clones exerted BCGF and BCDF activity. Neutralization studies and direct determination characterized these cytokines as IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha. The cytokine production of NK clones could be triggered by activated B cells only. Northern blot analysis demonstrated that activated B cells in co-culture with NK clones were able to induce accumulation of mRNA transcripts for IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha in NK cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Centre for Internal Medicine and Dermatology, Medical School, Hanover, FRG.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kolanus
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lonnemann
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Schmidt
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D018845:CD11 Antigens; D018821:CD18 Antigens; D002450:Cell Communication; D002999:Clone Cells; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000276:immunology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016028:Receptors, Leukocyte-Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D018845:CD11 Antigens; D018821:CD18 Antigens; D008222:Lymphokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016028:Receptors, Leukocyte-Adhesion; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C043695:lymphocyte proliferation potentiating factors; D007371:Interferon-gamma