T-cell influence on the B-cell differentiation process induced by Klebsiella

W. L. Gross*, I. Sieg, D. Steppat

*Corresponding author for this work
2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Klebsiella pneumoniae K43 cell membrane preparations (Klebs M) have been characterized previously as a human polyclonal B cell activator (PBA) that stimulates purified B cells to differentiate into immunoglobulin (Ig) secreting cells with negligible prior or parallel proliferation and in the absence of T cells. The aim of the present study was to define the cellular interactions in the regulation of Klebs M induced B-cell differentiation. For this purpose OKT4+ and OKT8+ cell populations were negatively selected with reasonable purity by means of a panning technique or by complement-mediated cytolysis using monoclonal OKT4 and OKT8 antibodies. The resulting cell populations were added to purified autologous B cells exposed to Klebs M or, as a control, pokeweed mitogen (PWM). In the Klebs M system both the OKT4+ and the OKT8+ cell subsets markedly enhanced IgM production; however, the helper effect of the OKT4+ cell subset was much more intense than that of the OKT8+ subset. In the PWM system only the OKT4+ cells provided help for B-cell differentiation. The OKT8+ subset demonstrated suppressor activity in the presence of an adequate helper cell (OKT4+ subset) function. These results indicate that Klebs M behaves like a "relatively T cell-independent PBA".

Original languageEnglish
JournalImmunology Letters
Volume10
Issue number3-4
Pages (from-to)213-216
Number of pages4
ISSN0165-2478
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1985

Research Areas and Centers

  • Academic Focus: Center for Infection and Inflammation Research (ZIEL)

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