title: Effects of activin A on IgE synthesis and cytokine production by human peripheral mononuclear cells.
abstract: Activin A not only stimulates the synthesis and release of pituitary follicle-stimulating hormone, but exerts various effects on haematopoietic cells, embryos, and fibroblasts. In the present study we have examined effects of activin A on IgE synthesis and cytokine production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in normal humans. When PBMC were cultured in the presence of IL-4, activin A significantly augmented IgE production induced by IL-4. Activin A did not affect, however, IgE production from highly purified B cells when they were stimulated with anti-CD40 MoAb and IL-4. The fact that in the latter condition IgE synthesis was T cell- and monocyte-independent indicated that activin A does not directly influence B cells for IgE synthesis. Rather, production as well as gene expression of IL-6, which is known to enhance IgE synthesis by purified monocytes, was induced by activin A alone. In addition, activin A induced other monokines such as IL-1 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha from monocytes. In contrast, activin A neither induced nor augmented the production of TNF-beta or interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), both of which are known to be exclusively generated by T cells. These data indicate that activin A plays a certain role in physiological functions for monocytes in normal humans.
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy and Rheumatic Diseases, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakajima
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kaneoka
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mizushima
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sakane
mesh_terms: D028341:Activins; D001483:Base Sequence; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007265:Inhibins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D008233:Lymphotoxin-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D006133:Growth Substances; D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008233:Lymphotoxin-alpha; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D028341:Activins; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D007265:Inhibins