title: Enhanced immunoglobulin formation of immortalized B cells from hypertensive patients.
abstract: Increased immunoglobulin levels and leukocyte counts have frequently been reported in essential hypertension. The underlying mechanisms, however, have remained obscure. Enhanced Na(+)-H+ exchanger activity is another frequently observed abnormality in essential hypertension that persists in immortalized B lymphoblasts and coincides with enhanced proliferation. We investigated the capacity of B lymphoblasts from essential hypertensive patients to synthesize and secrete immunoglobulins. Six B cell lines from essential hypertensive patients with enhanced Na(+)-H+ exchanger phenotype and six cell lines from normotensive subjects were studied. Lymphocyte markers were visualized by immunostaining. Immunoglobulin secretion was analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. These cell lines did not differ with respect to B cell markers. In response to 100 nmol/L platelet-activating factor, cells from hypertensive patients proliferated distinctly more quickly and their cell number increased by 3.9 +/- 0.4-fold (mean +/- SD) within 4 days, whereas the number of cells from normotensive subjects increased by only 2.6 +/- 0.1-fold. Furthermore, platelet-activating factor induced average increases in IgM and IgG formation of 13.3- and 5.4-fold, respectively, in lymphoblasts from hypertensive patients, which was significantly higher than increases in cells from normotensive subjects (1.4- and 1.2-fold, respectively). Thus, lymphoblasts from hypertensive patients proliferate more quickly and secrete more immunoglobulins in response to a physiological stimulus in vitro. This may contribute to the raised immunoglobulin levels and leukocyte counts reported in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Pharmakologie, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rosskopf
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hartung
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hense
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Siffert
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000276:immunology*; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D007136:Immunoglobulins; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor