title: Production of factors with B-cell growth and differentiation activities by peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with hypogammaglobulinemia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The maturation of normal B lymphocytes proceeds through a growth phase and a differentiation phase. These two phases appear to be under the influence of mediators released by immune cells, B-cell growth factor(s), which induce proliferation of B cells; and B-cell differentiation factor(s), which induce B-cell differentiation.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed the ability of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with hypogammaglobulinemia to produce B-cell growth factor and B-cell differentiation factor activity in comparison with normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 27 patients tested, 26 had normal production of B-cell growth factor activity. A quantitative but not absolute defect in B-cell growth factor production was demonstrable in one boy with hypogammaglobulinemia. Interleukin-2 and interleukin-4 levels, as determined antigenically in these supernatants, had a similar distribution pattern from patients' or from control peripheral blood mononuclear cells; that is, undetectable levels of interleukin-2 were produced by cells from 4 of 16 patients tested and from 4 of 13 control subjects, and undetectable levels of interleukin-4 produced by cells from 6 of 16 patients and 4 of 13 control subjects. B-cell differentiation factor activity was absent in only one child tested but present in all other patients. Two patients had quantitatively low secretion of B-cell differentiation factor, but all others were within normal range. The two patients with quantitatively depressed B-cell differentiation factor activity had normal levels of B-cell growth factor activity, interleukin-2, and interleukin-4 produced from their cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from the majority of patients with hypogammaglobulinemia appear to have the capacity to produce B-cell growth factors and B-cell differentiation factor activity in vitro.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, British Columbia's Children's Hospital, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Matheson
authors.forename: B T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Webb
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Hart
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Bowen
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Junker
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pabst
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Tingle
authors.forename: Z D
authors.initials: ZD
authors.lastname: Ling
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000361:Agammaglobulinemia / Q000097:blood*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D006133:Growth Substances; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015850:Interleukin-6; D003208:Concanavalin A; D015847:Interleukin-4