title: Mitogen-induced human IgG subclass expression. II. IgG1 and IgG3 subclasses are preferentially stimulated by a combination of Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I and pokeweed mitogen.
abstract: Mitogens generally stimulate human IgG subclass production in amounts proportional to their abundance in serum (IgG1 greater than IgG2 greater than IgG3 greater than IgG4). We report here that a combination of Staphylococcus aureus Cowan strain I and pokeweed mitogen consistently stimulates human peripheral blood lymphocytes in vitro to preferentially produce more IgG1 and IgG3 than IgG2. This preferential stimulation can be measured by increases in the number of immunoblasts (cells with detectable cytoplasmic immunoglobulin) as well as in secreted immunoglobulin. The preferential stimulation pattern is established by the fourth day of culture and is maintained at least until the tenth day. Removal of T cells and subsequent stimulation of B cells with S. aureus Cowan I and interleukin 1 (IL-1) interleukin 2 (IL-2), interleukin 4 (IL-4), or interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) failed to enhance any IgG subclass production, indicating the requirement for multiple lymphokines in IgG subclass production. The significance of these findings is discussed with respect to B-cell regulatory molecules and the coordinate expression of IgG subclasses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110.
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Butch
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Macke
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Inkster
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Nahm
mesh_terms: D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000145:classification* / Q000276:immunology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000378:metabolism; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens / Q000276:immunology*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D008222:Lymphokines; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens