B‐Cell Mitogenic Effects on Human Lymphocytes of Rabbit Anti‐Human β₂‐Microglobulin

Abstract

Rabbit Ig against human beta2-microglobulin was found to be mitogenic for human peripheral lymphocytes, tonsil lymphocytes, and appendix and spleen cells. Anti-beta2-m gave increased DNA synthesis, with peak responses on day 3 or 4 and showed a dose-response effect when diluted. The effect was seen in both serum-free and serum-containing culture medium. Anti-beta2-m, as well as lipopolysaccharide, induced polyclonal antibody production and intracellular immunoglobulin synthesis in blast cells, which is taken as evidence that these substances are human B-cell mitogens. Anti-beta2-m, but not lipopolysaccharide, could, in these experiments, activate peripheral blood lymphocytes, in addition to lymphoid cells from other sources. Thus, anti-beta2-m can serve as a functional marker for peripheral human B lymphocytes.

Regulation of Human B Cell Activation

“…These include killed Staphylococcal aureus, staphylococcal A protein in both soluble and insoluble forms (Ringden & RynneDagoo 1978), lipopolysaccharide (Ringden & Moller 1975, Fauci & Pratt 1976) nocardia water soluble antigen (Lethibichthuy et al 1978) and purified protein derivative (Fauci & Pratt 1976). These include killed Staphylococcal aureus, staphylococcal A protein in both soluble and insoluble forms (Ringden & RynneDagoo 1978), lipopolysaccharide (Ringden & Moller 1975, Fauci & Pratt 1976) nocardia water soluble antigen (Lethibichthuy et al 1978) and purified protein derivative (Fauci & Pratt 1976).…”

Polyclonal Antibody Secretion in Human Lymphocytes Induced by Killed Staphylococcal Bacteria and by Lipopolysaccharide

“…Huddinge Hospital, S-141 86 Huddinge. Sweden Polyclonal B-cell activators (PBAs) are com-to induce DNA synthesis and antibody producpetent to activate B cells into antibody synthesis tion in human .fpleeu cells (19). Furthermore, and increased DNA synthesis (2,4,14).…”

“…One way to study Ig production in human B cells has been to visualize intracellular Ig (10,19). So far, PWM is the only substance that has been demonstrated to induce intracellular Ig synthesis in human blood lymphocytes (10; Ringden & Rynnel-Dagoo, unpublished observations).…”

“…Therefore, these killed bacterial strains might not provide the best model for studying the molecular requirenieni involved in the activation of human B cell.s. For this purpose, better-characterized mitogens like soluble protein A, LPS, and anti-^^m arc more u.seful (18,19).…”

Conditions for Induction of Specific and Polyclonal Antibody Production by Cowan 1 Bacteria and by Pokeweed Mitogen

“…However, some batches of pokeweed mitogen (PWM) [7,9,22], antisera against Pa-microglobulin [16], and certain bacterial species [3,II,17,18] have successfully been used to stimulate human B lymphocytes to increased DNA synthesis. It has also been known for some years that PWM can induce polyclonal Ig synthesis in PBL [13,20,24].…”