Inhibition of B lymphocyte activation by interferon-gamma.
Helper/inducer T cell clones specific for protein antigens and class II MHC determinants consist of two nonoverlapping subsets. One (called Th1) secretes IL 2 and IFN-gamma and the other (Th2) produces BSF1 upon stimulation with antigen or polyclonal activators. By using hapten-binding normal B cells and the B lymphoma line WEHI-279 as assays for B cell helper (maturation) factors, we have shown that Th2 clone supernatants (SN) induce differentiation to antibody secretion, whereas Th1 SN do not. The failure of Th1 SN to activate B cells is due to inhibitory effects of IFN-gamma, because it can be reversed by a neutralizing monoclonal antibody specific for IFN-gamma. Thus, in the presence of this antibody, even Th1 SN stimulate B cell maturation maximally. Conversely, recombinant IFN-gamma inhibits proliferation and differentiation of B cells induced by active Th2 SN. These results demonstrate that IFN-gamma is a potent inhibitor of B lymphocyte activation and can be distinguished from growth and maturation-inducing helper factors that are produced by both subsets of helper T cells.
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D003864:Depression, Chemical; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000378:metabolism; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008211:Lymphocyte Cooperation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008806:Mice, Inbred AKR / Q000276:immunology; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C / Q000276:immunology; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL / Q000276:immunology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D006133:Growth Substances; D007376:Interleukin-2; D008222:Lymphokines; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma