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Spontaneous lymphokine production by human B lymphocytes
Acta Pathologica Et Microbiologica Scandinavica. Section C, Immunology
|April 1, 1978
Summary
Human lymphocytes spontaneously produce lymphokine-like activities. Leukocyte inhibitory factor (LIF), identified as the cause of migration inhibition, is produced solely by B cells, independent of T cells or monocytes.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Human lymphocytes cultured in vitro spontaneously produce supernatant activities resembling lymphokines.
- Leukocyte migration inhibitory activity has been observed in these supernatants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the source and nature of spontaneous lymphokine production by human lymphocytes.
- To characterize the leukocyte migration inhibitory activity and identify the producing cell type.
Main Methods:
- Physicochemical characterization of supernatant activities.
- Inhibition experiments to identify specific factors.
- Purification of T and B lymphocytes using carbonyl iron and SRBC-rosette sedimentation.
- In vitro culture of purified lymphocyte subsets.
Main Results:
- The leukocyte migration inhibitory activity in supernatants was identified as leukocyte inhibitory factor (LIF).
- Purified B lymphocytes, but not T lymphocytes, produced LIF and chemotactic lymphokines in culture.
- B cells elaborated these lymphokines without the requirement for T cell or monocyte co-operation.
- T cells remained inactive even when reconstituted with monocytes and platelets.
Conclusions:
- B lymphocytes are the primary producers of spontaneous leukocyte inhibitory factor (LIF) and certain chemotactic lymphokines.
- B cell lymphokine production occurs independently of T cell help and monocyte co-operation.
- This finding challenges previous assumptions about T cell-dependent lymphokine elaboration.