Activation of IL-4 and IL-6 secreting cells by antigen

The number, antigenic specificity and phenotype of cells secreting IL-4 and IL-6 in mice immunized with ovalbumin or keyhole limpet haemocyanin (KLH) in Freund's adjuvant (FA) was studied. The frequency of cells producing either of these cytokines began to rise 6 days post immunization, peaked at 11-14 days post-immunization, and fell to background by 21 days. The number of spleen cells secreting IL-6 was higher than the number producing IL-4 at all time points. Boosting elicited an anamnestic response characterized by a significant increase in the number of cytokine secreting cells within 4 days. Cytokine production was induced in multiple strains of normal mice, and was critically dependent on the use of Complete FA in addition to antigen. Immunization induced IL-4 and IL-6 production in vivo while 'priming' additional cells to release these cytokines when reexposed to soluble antigen in vitro. The latter response was antigen specific and was dominated by non-B/non-T cells. Those cells may serve to boost the immune response in cases of persistent or repeated antigenic challenge.