title: N-acetylcysteine inhibits the induction of an antigen-specific antibody response down-regulating CD40 and CD27 co-stimulatory molecules.
abstract: We investigated the effect of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on normal human B cell functions. We found that NAC significantly inhibited both the induction of the specific antibody response to the T-dependent antigen Candida albicans and T-dependent pokeweed mitogen (PWM)-induced polyclonal Ig production. NAC did not induce either cell death due to a non-specific toxicity or apoptosis. The NAC-induced inhibitory effect might be a functional consequence of: (i) a down-regulation of the expression on the B cell surface of CD40 and CD27 co-stimulatory molecules and (ii) a down-regulation of interleukin (IL-4) production. In contrast, NAC up-regulated interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production. NAC did not induce any effect on the T cell-independent B cell polyclonal activation system. These results indicate that NAC down-regulates T dependent B cell activation and leads to T helper cell type 1 (Th1) polarization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Giordani
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Quaranta
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Malorni
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boccanera
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Giacomini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Viora
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects*; D000921:Antibody-Producing Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D000941:Antigens; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D019013:CD40 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D018127:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7 / Q000378:metabolism*; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D000975:Antioxidants; D019013:CD40 Antigens; D016207:Cytokines; D018127:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D000111:Acetylcysteine