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. 1995 Feb;84(2):278–284.

Regulation of human IgG subclass production by cytokines: human IgG subclass production enhanced differentially by interleukin-6.

Y Kawano 1, T Noma 1, K Kou 1, I Yoshizawa 1, J Yata 1
PMCID: PMC1415106  PMID: 7751005

Abstract

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) stimulated with pokeweed mitogen (PWM) produced increased IgG when cultured with interleukin-6 (IL-6). IgG subclass analysis showed that the presence of IL-6 during the last half of the culture period enhanced IgG1 and IgG4 production. Enhancement of IgG2 synthesis required the presence of IL-6 solely during the last half of the culture period, whereas enhancement paradoxically was blocked by its presence during the first half. The IgG3-enhancing effect of IL-6 was observed only when IL-6 was present throughout the culture period. The critical role of IL-6 was supported by the inhibition of IgG subclass synthesis by anti-IL-6 antibody. PBMC depleted of cells bearing surface IgG of a particular subclass did not synthesize that subclass. This non-responsiveness, which was not reversed even by an addition of IL-6, indicates that the main action of IL-6 is on the differentiation of committed B cells. In addition, IL-6 triggered T cells to produce significant helper activity. These results indicate that IL-6 enhances IgG subclass production differentially and that its critical role in IgG subclass synthesis is in part mediated by T cells, as well as by its direct action on B cells. These findings should be useful for analysing such immune disorders as IgG subclass deficiencies and autoimmune diseases.

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Selected References

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