[Modulation of immunoglobulin production by polymorphonuclear neutrophils]

Infiltration of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) as well as lymphocytes is commonly observed at the sites of inflammation. However, it is still unclear whether PMN influence the function of lymphocytes. The current studies examined the effects of PMN upon immunoglobulin production. PMN did not significantly influence the IgM production by B cells stimulated with Staphylococcus aureus (SA) + IL-2 in the absence of T cells. By contrast, PMN significantly enhanced the IgM production induced by immobilized anti-CD 3 stimulated T cells. PMN also enhanced the interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production by immobilized anti-CD 3 stimulated T cells. PMN fixed by paraformaldehyde enhanced the IgM production and the IFN-gamma production induced by immobilized anti-CD3 as effectively as fresh PMN. These results indicate that PMN enhance the Ig production by upregulating the functions of immobilized anti-CD 3-activated T cells through direct cellular interaction with T cells.