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Human lymphokine-activated killer cells suppress pokeweed mitogen-induced immunoglobulin synthesis

H Suzuki1, N Yamashita, M Maruyama

  • 1First Department of Internal Medicine, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, School of Medicine, Japan.

Clinical and Experimental Immunology
|December 1, 1989
PubMed

Insights

Human lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells suppress immunoglobulin production. LAK cells kill activated T and B cells, reducing IgG synthesis in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC).

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Pokeweed mitogen (PWM) stimulates immunoglobulin synthesis in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC).
  • Lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells are immune cells with cytotoxic capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of LAK cells on PWM-induced immunoglobulin synthesis.
  • To determine the mechanism by which LAK cells influence B cell antibody production.

Main Methods:

  • In vitro culture of PBMC with recombinant human interleukin-2 (IL-2) to generate LAK cells.
  • Assessing the cytotoxic activity of LAK cells against PWM-activated T and B cells.
  • Evaluating IgG production in PBMC cultures supplemented with LAK cells.

Main Results:

  • LAK cells, induced by IL-2, effectively lysed PWM-activated autologous T and B cells, but not unstimulated lymphocytes.
  • CD8(+) and CD16(+) enriched LAK cells significantly suppressed IgG production.
  • Control cells cultured without IL-2 showed minimal suppression of IgG synthesis.

Conclusions:

  • LAK cells suppress immunoglobulin synthesis through the cytotoxic elimination of activated T and B cells.
  • The findings highlight the role of LAK cells in regulating B cell antibody production via cell-mediated cytotoxicity.

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