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Departments of
*
Microbiology and Immunology and
Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298
Bryostatin-1, a macrocyclic lactone, is an antineoplastic agent
that potently activates protein kinase C. Bryostatin-1 (Bryo) had an
immunomodulatory effect on murine B cells in that it specifically
inhibited IgE production. IgE levels were inhibited in a B cell
dose-response curve, whereas IgM and IgG1 were induced by Bryo
treatment. Taken together, ELISPOT and surface Ig staining data
suggested that Bryo inhibition occurred at the level of class
switching. RT-PCR and real time PCR data showed that this inhibition
was achieved at an early step in switch recombination, namely, the
appearance of I
germline transcripts. Although Bryo caused a delay
in the proliferative response of IL-4/CD40 ligand trimer-stimulated B
cells, CFSE studies revealed that the Bryo-mediated inhibition of class
switching to IgE occurred independently of the number of division
cycles. Notably, Bryo showed the same specific IgE inhibition in human
B cells. This study provides evidence for a unique mechanism regulating
IgE production possibly downstream of PKC by specifically modulating
I
germline transcription.
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