title: A novel type of B-cell mitogen isolated from juzen-taiho-to (TJ-48), a Japanese traditional medicine.
abstract: Juzen-taiho-to (TJ-48), a Japanese traditional medicine, is known to have various immunological activities including the induction of B-cell proliferation. We investigated the properties of the pectic polysaccharide fraction of TJ-48 (F-5-2) which is most active in the proliferation of spleen cells. To an extent equal to that of TJ-48, F-5-2 induced the proliferation of B-cells, particularly those holding both sIgM and sIgD. The proliferation induced by F-5-2 was T-cell independent and macrophage dependent. The macrophages could be substituted for a soluble factor(s) secreted from the macrophages but not for IL-1. Generally, B-cell mitogens are known to induce the proliferation of B-cells and subsequently differentiation into plasma cells. However, although F-5-2 induced the B-cell differentiation, it arrested their development in the intermediate stage of the B-cell differentiation. The B-cells induced by F-5-2 produced IgM antibody in response to IL-6 and an antigen (SRBC) but not IgG antibody. F-5-2 induced the expression of IL-6R not only on IgM+ and IgG+ B-cells but also on IgD+ B-cells. These results suggest that F-5-2 is a new type of B-cell mitogen.
authors.affiliation: New Drug Research Department II, Tsumura Central Research Laboratories, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Takemoto
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kiyohara
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Maruyama
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Komatsu
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kawamura
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D008934:Mitogens / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin / Q000187:drug effects; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D008934:Mitogens; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6; C063587:juzentaihoto