title: Suppression of immunoglobulin synthesis by activated B cells in chronic active liver diseases and primary biliary cirrhosis.
abstract: We investigated the suppressor function of peripheral blood B cells from patients with chronic active liver diseases (CALD) and primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). Suppressor cells were generated by preincubation of B cells with protein A, and suppressive effects were evaluated by inhibition of pokeweed mitogen-induced immunoglobulin (Ig) synthesis of normal peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) in second-set cultures. The mean percent suppressions for IgG and IgM synthesis of 12 HBsAg-negative patients with CALD, who were not on prednisone therapy, were lower (p less than 0.01, respectively) than those of controls. B cells from 6 HBsAg-positive patients with CALD also showed less suppression of IgG and IgM synthesis (p less than 0.01, respectively). Moreover the suppression for IgG and IgM in 7 patients with PBC were decreased (p less than 0.01, respectively). There was an inverse correlation between serum gammaglobulin level and percent suppression for IgG synthesis by protein A-activated B cells of patients with CALD (r = -0.50, p less than 0.05). Further studies demonstrated that protein A-activated B cells were capable of activating the suppressor function of T cells, which could then act to inhibit further B cell differentiation. These results suggest an aberrance of a feedback mechanism that is likely to regulate Ig synthesis in patients with CALD and PBC.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008105:Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D013205:Staphylococcal Protein A / Q000494:pharmacology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens; D013205:Staphylococcal Protein A