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B cell stimulating activity of metallothionein in vitro
1Department of Immunology, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, 1-1, Iseigaoka, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan. sugiurat@med.uoeh-u.ac.jp
Abstract:
The effect of metallothionein (MT) on lymphocytes was studied in vitro. Rabbit MT induced the proliferative responses of mouse splenocytes at concentrations of 1-25 microg/ml. MT synergistically enhanced Con A- or LPS-induced proliferative response of splenocytes. A similar effect was also observed for rabbit splenocytes at a similar concentration. Free heavy metals such as Cd and Zn only weakly stimulated splenocytes. 2-mercaptoethanol (2-Me) abrogated the effect of MT, suggesting that thiols in MT play an important role for splenocyte response. MT stimulated splenocytes from MT-knockout mice as well as those from normal control mouse. The responder cells for MT stimulation were B cells and MT also induced B cell differentiation to produce Ig. MT induced the calcium influx of B cells, but not T cells. These results indicate that MT has a potent immunomodulating activity, especially on B cells.