title: Analysis of the B-cell growth-promoting activity of human IL-4, the co-stimulatory assay with anti-immunoglobulin antibodies. Comparison with the B-cell growth-promoting activity of other lymphokines.
abstract: Human recombinant interleukin-4 (rIL-4) was assessed for its ability to promote the proliferative response of purified human B cells co-stimulated with submitogenic concentrations of soluble F(ab')2 fragments of anti-immunoglobulin (Ig) antibodies. The growth-promoting activity of rIL-4 was usually as potent as, or even more potent than, that of recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2), and more potent than that of recombinant interferon-gamma (rIFN-gamma). Preincubation with rIL-4 did not cause enhancement of the proliferative response of B cells to the subsequent addition of rIL-4 and anti-IgM antibody. In contrast, the proliferative response of B cells preincubated with anti-IgM antibody and rIL-4 was potentiated by the subsequent addition of rIL-4. The simultaneous addition of rIFN-gamma and rIL-2 or rIFN-gamma and rIL-4 had an additive effect in comparison with the response induced by rIL-2 or rIL-4 alone, respectively, whereas simultaneous addition of rIL-2 and rIL-4 induced a response equal or lower than that stimulated by rIL-2 or rIL-4 alone. The addition of rIFN-gamma at the beginning of culture or preincubation of B cells with rIFN-gamma and anti-IgM antibody potentiated the proliferative response of B cells to the subsequent addition of either rIL-2 or rIL-4. Taken together, these data suggest that rIL-4 acts as a growth factor for activated human B cells and displays on such cells a growth-promoting activity similar to that of rIL-2.
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergology, University of Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Almerigogna
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Giudizi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Biagiotti
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alessi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Defrance
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Banchereau
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Romagnani
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D007072:Immunoglobulin D / Q000276:immunology*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000276:immunology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007378:Interleukins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D014066:Palatine Tonsil; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D007072:Immunoglobulin D; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007376:Interleukin-2; D007378:Interleukins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C039951:anti-IgD; C044203:anti-IgM; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma