Regulatory effects of novel neurotrophin-1/b cell-stimulating factor-3 (cardiotrophin-like cytokine) on B cell function

J Immunol. 2002 Jun 1;168(11):5690-8. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.168.11.5690.

Abstract

We describe regulatory effects that a novel neurotrophin-1/B cell-stimulating factor-3 (NNT-1/BSF-3; also reported as cardiotrophin-like cytokine) has on B cell function. NNT-1/BSF-3 stimulates B cell proliferation and Ig production in vitro. NNT-1/BSF-3-transgenic mice, engineered to express NNT-1/BSF-3 in the liver under control of the apolipoprotein E promoter, show B cell hyperplasia with particular expansion of the mature follicular B cell subset in the spleen and the prominent presence of plasma cells. NNT-1/BSF-3-transgenic mice show high serum levels of IgM, IgE, IgG2b, IgG3, anti-dsDNA Abs, and serum amyloid A. NNT-1/BSF-3-transgenic mice also show non-amyloid mesangial deposits that contain IgM, IgG, and C3 and are characterized by a distinctive ultrastructure similar to that of immunotactoid glomerulopathy. NNT-1/BSF-3-transgenic mice produce high amounts of Ag-specific IgM, IgA, and IgE and low amounts of IgG2a and IgG3. Normal mice treated with NNT-1/BSF-3 also produce high amounts of Ag-specific IgE. NNT-1/BSF-3 regulates immunity by stimulating B cell function and Ab production, with preference for Th2 over Th1 Ig types.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibody Formation
  • B-Lymphocytes / physiology*
  • Cytokines / physiology*
  • Female
  • Kidney / pathology
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Spleen / pathology
  • Th1 Cells / immunology
  • Th2 Cells / immunology

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • cardiotrophin-like cytokine