title: alpha-Interferon increases immunoglobulin production in cultured human mononuclear leukocytes.
abstract: Interferons (IFN) are known to modulate immune responses in either an inhibitory or a stimulating manner. The present study was initiated to investigate the mechanisms by which alpha-IFN modulates Ig production of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). IgG and IgM production was measured in pokeweed mitogen- (PWM) stimulated 7-day cultures of PBMC. Significant enhancement of IgM and IgG production was observed when alpha-IFN was added. Overnight preincubation followed by washing also produced significant enhancement. The effect of alpha-IFN was not obtained in the absence of PWM or T cells. The effect of alpha-IFN on cultures of B and T cells was not altered by irradiation of T cells (2000 rad). alpha-IFN was not shown to enhance the production of helper factor but did increase the responsiveness of B cells to helper factor if the B cells were preincubated with alpha-IFN. Finally, alpha-IFN did not increase the Ig production of PBMC induced by Epstein Barr virus (EBV), and the outgrowth of EBV-infected PBMC was not affected. Overall, these results show for the first time that the effect of alpha-IFN on PBMC is due to an enhanced responsiveness of B cells to helper factors produced by radioresistant T cells.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000921:Antibody-Producing Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000494:pharmacology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007370:Interferon Type I; D007375:Interleukin-1; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens