title: Proliferation of human malignant lymphocytes induced by anti-IgM independent of B cell growth factor.
abstract: Human malignant B lymphocytes were identified that proliferate in response to small doses of anti-immunoglobulin. Proliferation was induced by monoclonal mouse anti-HIgM, polyclonal goat anti-HIgM, and F(ab')2 fragments thereof, in vitro, and was not accompanied by immunoglobulin secretion. Proliferation was found to be unaffected by T cell depletion and was not enhanced by supplementation with B cell growth factor. Culture fluids from unstimulated malignant lymphocytes as well as from malignant lymphocytes stimulated with anti-HIgM contained no measurable B cell growth factor activity. Thus, proliferation of these malignant lymphocytes was not dependent on the presence of T lymphocytes and was independent of the presence of B cell growth factor. These results imply that B cell stimulatory factors may not be required for proliferation of all human B lymphocytes. Moreover, these results imply that treatment with anti-immunoglobulin reagents may be inappropriate for some B lymphocyte malignancies.
mesh_terms: D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000502:physiology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D004357:Drug Synergism; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments / Q000502:physiology; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000502:physiology*; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008212:Lymphocyte Depletion; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000276:immunology; D010641:Phenotype; D013601:T-Lymphocytes
chemical_list: D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D006133:Growth Substances; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D008222:Lymphokines; C044203:anti-IgM; D015847:Interleukin-4