title: Immunoglobulin isotype production by cycling human B lymphocytes in response to recombinant cytokines and anti-IgM.
abstract: Actively cycling populations of purified human tonsilar B lymphocytes were examined for their capacity to secrete IgM, IgA, IgE and IgG of all four subclasses in direct response to recombinant cytokines; in some experiments, monoclonal antibody to IgM (anti-mu) was included in order to explore the influence of antigen receptor ligation on immunoglobulin (Ig) production. Enhanced IgM release was seen on culture of the cycling cells with either interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-4 or interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha). IL-2 and IFN-alpha also augmented IgA production, whereas IL-4 had no effect on this isotype. IL-4 did, however, encourage the production of the IgG subclasses IgG1, IgG2 and IgG3, while IL-2 augmented IgG1 and IgG3 release and IFN-alpha increased IgG1 levels. IgG4 production, and that of IgE, failed to be perturbed by any of the cytokines assayed. Neither IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-5 nor IFN-gamma significantly altered the profile of Ig isotype release. When confronted with anti-mu, cycling B cells demonstrated a marked suppression in IgM production. Suppression could not be overcome by the addition to culture of the normally IgM-promoting IL-4. Concomitant with the reduction in IgM levels, an increase in IgG release was observed. This was comprised of elevations in IgG1 and IgG3. Although not influencing IgA release directly, anti-mu was found to promote increased IgA production in co-culture with either IL-2 or IFN-alpha. The findings are discussed in the context of recent findings on Ig isotype control in both human and murine systems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Medical School, Birmingham, U.K.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Flores-Romo
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Millsum
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gillis
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stubbs
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sykes
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gordon
mesh_terms: D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D001685:Biological Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016207:Cytokines; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007132:Immunoglobulin Isotypes / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000494:pharmacology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001685:Biological Factors; D016207:Cytokines; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007132:Immunoglobulin Isotypes; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C044203:anti-IgM; D015847:Interleukin-4