HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Hoffmann, M. K. Articles by Hammerling, U. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Hoffmann, M. K. Articles by Hammerling, U.

Macrophage Factor Controlling Differentiation of B Cells¹

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10021, and the Max-Plank-Institut für Immunbiologie, Freiburg, Germany

Abstract

Peritoneal macrophages of the mouse produce, in response to cell wall components of Gram-negative bacteria (lipopolysaccharide and lipoproteins), a factor that causes antigen-stimulated B cells to differentiate into antibody-producing cells. Unlike lipopolysaccharide, this factor is not mitogenic for B cells. Production of the macrophage factor does not depend on participation of T cells or other accessory cells since it is readily produced by several cloned macrophage cell lines as well as by peritoneal macrophages of athymic nude mice. The factor is active only in conjunction with antigen. T cells, although apparently not necessary, amplify its effect. The factor induces phenotypic differentiation of B cell precursors as selectively as thymopoietin induces differentiation of prothymocytes.

Footnotes

¹ This work was supported by Grants CA-17673, CA-16889, and CA-08748 from the National Institutes of Health.

² Recipient of National Institutes of Health Immunobiology Training Grant CA-09149.