title: Immunoglobulin and cytokine production by neonatal lymphocytes.
abstract: Growth and differentiation of cord blood B cells were studied using T cell-depleted populations. In the absence of in vitro activation, cord blood B cells proliferated in response to cytokines including interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interleukin-4 (IL-4); anti-mu-stimulated cord B cells had a lesser response to IL-2 than adult cells. IgM synthesis by cord blood B cells was enhanced by interleukin-6 (IL-6) and decreased by IL-2. In cultures activated by Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I (SAC), cord blood B cells produced lesser increases in IgM than adult B cells regardless of the cytokine added. Cord blood B cells produced no IgG or IgA with any cytokine preparation with or without SAC activation. Supernatants of cord blood T cells pulse-stimulated with phytohaemagglutinin and phorbol myristate acetate contained less IL-2 and IL-6 and had less growth and differentiation activity than adult T cell supernatants. The results confirm a limited cord blood B cell response and also suggest a limitation in production of B cell stimulatory lymphokines by cord blood T cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Oen
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ramdahin
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Harman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002455:Cell Division; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005312:Fetal Blood; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000378:metabolism; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000378:metabolism; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D008222:Lymphokines; D008875:Middle Aged; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D008222:Lymphokines; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate