title: IL 1-like activity in antigen-presenting human B cell lines.
abstract: The secretion of interleukin 1 (IL 1) by an antigen-presenting cell (APC) may be essential to its function in the stimulation of T cell responses. However, the relevance of IL 1 is less clear in cases where the APC are from continuous B cell lines. We have shown that IL 1-like activity can be demonstrated in human B cell lines by using a cellular co-culture assay for IL 1. Significant IL 1 activity could not be detected in the supernatants of these B cell lines produced either constitutively or after stimulation with various mitogens. The failure to detect IL 1 activity in B cell supernatants was not due to secretion of a detectable inhibitor of IL 1. B cell supernatants or a co-culture assay with B cells failed to demonstrate any IL 2 activity. Co-culture experiments, in which B cells were added to known concentrations of IL 1, showed distinct patterns of stimulation and may suggest that the B cell activity is distinct from conventional IL 1. Not all B cell lines had equivalent levels of IL 1-like activity. However, all B cell lines tested were able to act as effective APC. Thus, B cells that function as APC may utilize a mediator with properties similar to IL 1.
mesh_terms: D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral; D002474:Cell-Free System; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation
chemical_list: D007375:Interleukin-1