title: All-trans-retinoic acid accelerates the differentiation of human B lymphocytes maturing into plasma cells.
abstract: There is a growing body of evidences suggesting the important role of vitamin A for the optimal maintenance and functioning of immune system. It is now well established that retinoic acid (RA), a product of oxidative metabolism of vitamin A, is the most active vitamin A derivative physiologically. In this study, we examined the role of RA in B cell maturation in T cell-dependent activation pathway. RA enhanced the immunoglobulin synthesis by tonsillar B cells in anti-CD40 plus IL-10-mediated culture system. When the kinetics of B cells with different phenotypic characteristics were monitored during 9 days culture period by flow cytometric analysis, it displayed the increase of the B cells with plasma cell phenotype (CD38+/CD20-/IgD-) in the presence of RA. As resting B cells from tonsil expressed mRNA of the RA receptors alpha, beta, gamma and RXRalpha by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, it is certain that RA effect is mediated by RA receptors. Taken together, this study showed that retinoic acid could accelerate the differentiation of B cells maturing into antibody producing cells.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Nutrition, Department of Nutrition, Sagami Women's University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 228-8533, Japan. morikawa_keiko@isc.sagami-wu.ac.jp
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Morikawa
authors.forename: Mitsuko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nonaka
mesh_terms: D051997:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000378:metabolism; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000166:cytology; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D007136:Immunoglobulins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid; D014212:Tretinoin; D051997:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1