Gender dichotomy in antibody response in a T-cell lymphoma: involvement of IL-13 and gonadal hormones.
OBJECTIVE
Dalton's lymphoma (DL) shows very high interleukin (IL)-13 level in the serum and ascitic fluid. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated if any sexual dichotomy in the level of IL-13, and resulting B-cell activation and Ig subclass switching also exist in the tumor-bearing host.


METHODS
Serum and ascitic fluid of different groups of DL-bearing mice were isolated and IL-13 level and various Ig levels in serum were quantified by double-sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Further, the B cells were isolated from DL-bearing mice and effects of various concentrations of IL-13 and sex steroids were measured.


RESULTS
Uncastrated and hormone replaced DL-bearing mice showed sexual dichotomy in IL-13 level, and subsequent difference in Ig-level and this was found to be more pronounced in females. Similarly, in vitro study suggested that estrogen treatment, in combination with IL-13, strongly modulates B-cell Ig switching in comparison to testosterone treatment in association with IL-13.


CONCLUSIONS
It can be concluded that IL-13, in concert with gonadal hormones, differentially modulates the B-cell function in a tumor-bearing host.
Deepak
Praveen
P
Immunology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, UP, India.
Kumar
Sanjay
S
Acharya
Arbind
A
D000818:Animals; D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002369:Castration; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004958:Estradiol / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D016399:Lymphoma, T-Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D012737:Sex Factors; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D013739:Testosterone / Q000276:immunology*
D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D018793:Interleukin-13; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol