title: Bestatin, an inhibitor of aminopeptidase B, suppresses the proliferation and differentiation of human B-cells in vitro.
abstract: Bestatin, an inhibitor of aminopeptidase B, was examined for its effect on B-cell activation. Small, dense B-cells from human tonsil samples were isolated by Percoll density gradients from non-rosetted (E-) cells and were used as target cells. Although bestatin was not cytotoxic towards B-cells, it inhibited the proliferative response of B-cells induced by SAC- or PMA-stimulation. The inhibition of cell proliferation by bestatin was manifested as cell arrest caused by the selective block of G1b to S phase transition. This inhibitory effect was prevented by the addition of B-cell growth factor (BCGF) or interleukin-2 (IL-2). The presence of BCGF or IL-2 at the initiation of the culture prevented the bestatin-mediated suppressive effect on B-cell proliferation. Bestatin also has a direct inhibitory effect on the differentiation of B-cells independent of its suppressive effect on B-cell proliferation, which was not relieved by T-cell help. Conversely, bestatin suppressed neither proliferation nor Ig secretion of human B lymphoblastoid cell lines, although aminopeptidase activities on the membrane of these cell lines were strongly inhibited by bestatin. These results indicated that bestatin selectively suppressed normal B-cell proliferation and differentiation. Although several studies have demonstrated that bestatin has immunopotentiating effects in tumor-bearing subjects, the above results indicated that the mechanism of immunopotentiation by bestatin is not a direct stimulatory effect on B-cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Shimane Medical University, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Morikawa
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morikawa
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nakano
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Oseko
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology; D000328:Adult; D000626:Aminopeptidases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000494:pharmacology; D007930:Leucine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin; D015847:Interleukin-4; D000626:Aminopeptidases; C019721:aminopeptidase B; D007930:Leucine; C012211:ubenimex