title: Production of lymphocyte-derived cytokines by whole umbilical cord blood cultures stimulated with mitogens and allergens.
abstract: A whole blood culture technique was used to establish conditions for stimulating the production of cytokines by cord blood lymphocytes. The cultures were stimulated with mitogens (concanavalin A and phytohaemagglutinin) and allergens (beta-lactoglobulin (BLG), ovalbumin (OVA) and house dust mite (Der p 1)) at a range of concentrations. Interleukin (IL-) 2, IL-4, IL-10, IL-13 and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) concentrations were assayed in the supernatants at 24, 48 and 72 h. Stimulation with mitogens but not allergens induced increases in IL-2 and IL-13 concentrations. IFN-gamma was strongly induced by mitogenic stimulation: maximal responses were seen at 48 h. Stimulation with the allergens also induced an increase in IFN-gamma concentration which was maximal for 100 microg/ml of BLG and OVA. Der p 1 induced the highest IFN-gamma production among the allergens. IL-4 concentrations were increased in mitogen and Der p 1 stimulated cultures. This was maximal at 48 and 24 h, respectively. IL-10 was induced with mitogen and allergen stimulation. Thus, this study has established conditions for assessing production of lymphocyte-derived cytokines in a simple whole umbilical cord blood culture system.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Nutrition, School of Medicine, University of Southampton, Bassett Crescent East, Southampton SO16 7PX, UK. eam@soton.ac.uk
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Miles
authors.forename: Lucy
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bakewell
authors.forename: Philip C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Calder
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000378:metabolism; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000378:metabolism; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000378:metabolism; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008934:Mitogens / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D016207:Cytokines; D018793:Interleukin-13; D007376:Interleukin-2; D008934:Mitogens; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma