Production of factors with B-cell growth and differentiation activities by peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with hypogammaglobulinemia.
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.
Matheson
D S
DS
Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, British Columbia's Children's Hospital, Vancouver, Canada.
Webb
B T
BT
Green
B J
BJ
Hart
L J
LJ
Bowen
T J
TJ
Junker
A K
AK
Pabst
H
H
Tingle
A J
AJ
Ling
Z D
ZD
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
D006133:Growth Substances; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015850:Interleukin-6; D003208:Concanavalin A; D015847:Interleukin-4