title: Role for T cells, IL-2 and IL-6 in the IL-4-dependent in vitro human IgE synthesis.
abstract: The role of T cells and monocytes, as well as that of cytokines, such as IL-1, IL-2 and IL-6, on the IL-4-dependent in vitro human IgE synthesis was investigated. Recombinant IL-4, IL-4-containing T-cell clone supernatants and different combinations of recombinant cytokines failed to induce highly purified B cells to synthesize IgE. IL-4-dependent IgE synthesis was restored by addition to purified B cells of either untreated or mitomycin C-treated autologous T lymphocytes. Addition to purified B cells of autologous monocytes did not restore the IgE response, but usually it exerted a potentiating effect on the synthesis of IgE induced by IL-4 in the presence of suboptimal concentrations of T cells. The activity of T cells apparently preceded that of IL-4 and required a physical contact with B cells. The presence in culture of IL-2 also appeared to be necessary for the T-cell and IL-4-dependent IgE synthesis. Even though not essential, IL-6 was able to potentiate IgE synthesis in most experiments, whereas IL-1 did not display any modulatory effect.
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergology and Clinical Immunology, University of Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Maggi
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Del Prete
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parronchi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tiri
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Macchia
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Biswas
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Simonelli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Romagnani
mesh_terms: D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D002450:Cell Communication; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009000:Monocytes / Q000502:physiology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D015850:Interleukin-6; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E