title: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in B-lymphocyte function.
abstract: Two cytokines important in the regulation of B-cell function are tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). They act at different steps in B-cell differentiation and can be produced by the B cells themselves upon appropriate stimulation. Crosslinking of surface Ig and signaling through CD22 or CD40 lead to increased secretion of both cytokines. Neutralization of TNF-alpha or IL-6 biologic activity in B-cell cultures results in a significant reduction in B-cell proliferation and Ig secretion. Increased production of these cytokines is found in several diseases associated with aberrant B-cell function. This review will focus on the role of TNF-alpha and IL-6 in normal and pathophysiological conditions of B-cell function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Julius-Maximilians Universität, Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rieckmann
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Tuscano
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kehrl
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D019013:CD40 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D037102:Lectins; D051918:Sialic Acid Binding Ig-like Lectin 2; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015703:Antigens, CD; D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte; C497867:CD22 protein, human; D019013:CD40 Antigens; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D015850:Interleukin-6; D037102:Lectins; D051918:Sialic Acid Binding Ig-like Lectin 2; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha