title: Recombinant human interleukin 2 directly provides signals for the proliferation and functional maturation of murine B lymphocytes.
abstract: In this study the effect of recombinant human interleukin 2 (rec.hIL-2) on the proliferation and maturation of B lymphocytes was investigated. It was found that the presence of rec.hIL 2 results in proliferation of mitogen (LPS)-activated B cell blasts. In addition, it is shown that highly enriched murine B cells can be induced by rec.hIL-2 to proliferate and to develop into antibody-secreting cells (PFC) in the presence of antigen (SRBC). When tested for its effect on B cell preparations enriched for resting (small) or activated (blasted) B lymphocytes, it was found that rec.hIL 2 provides signals for both B cell populations to develop into PFC. In contrast, induction of proliferation by the same lymphokine source was only seen in blasted B cells. The data indicate that IL 2 is involved in the generation of B effector cells by directly acting on their precursors thereby providing differentiation as well as proliferation signals.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2