title: Characteristics of B-cell-specific growth substance produced by Bacillus licheniformis E1.
abstract: A B cell-specific growth substance (BGS) was isolated from the slime layer of Bacillus licheniformis E1. Unlike LPS, the BGS was not affected by polymixin B, an inhibitor of LPS, or by TLR4, and resulted in the growth of B cells. When BALB/c mice were treated with the BGS, the B cell population was found to increase in both the bone marrow and the spleen, with a marked increase after 24 h in the bone marrow and after 48 h in the spleen. When using antibodies to B cell lineage-restricted surface molecules to analyze the B cell population changes resulting from treatment with the BGS, an increase in immature B cells (IgM(+) and AA4.1(+)) and mature B cells (IgM(+) and IgD(+)) was found in the bone marrow 24 h after treatment with the BGS, whereas a decrease in mature B cells and increase in IgG(+) B cells were found in the spleen. When the BGS and OVA antigen were injected into the peritoneal cavity of BALB/c mice, this resulted in a high OVA-specific antibody titer in the sera, similar to that induced by aluminum hydroxide. Therefore, it is anticipated that the mass production of the BGS by B. licheniformis E1 could be used for studies of B cells in immunology, and contribute to the development of a new adjuvant for vaccine manufacture.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Allergy, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Joo Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kun Sub
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Jeon Han
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Yi-Sub
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kwak
authors.forename: Bong Ki
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D001407:Bacillus / Q000378:metabolism*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D005260:Female; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D011112:Polymyxin B / Q000494:pharmacology; D054448:Precursor Cells, B-Lymphoid / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D006133:Growth Substances; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; C493487:Tlr4 protein, mouse; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4; C440499:lipopolysaccharide, Escherichia coli O111 B4; D011112:Polymyxin B