Open AccessRegulation of human B cell proliferation and differentiation by seminal plasma
Author(s) -
LEE H.K.,
LEE H.H.,
PARK Y.M.,
LEE J.H.,
HA T.Y.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
clinical & experimental immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.329
H-Index - 135
eISSN - 1365-2249
pISSN - 0009-9104
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2249.1991.tb05700.x
Subject(s) - immunology , cell growth , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , plasma cell , cellular differentiation , antibody , genetics , gene
SUMMARY To investigate the role of seminal plasma in human B cell functions, its effect on the proliferation and antibody secretion of tonsillar B cells and an Epstein ‐Barr virus (EBV) transformed human B cell line, A4, was examined. Seminal plasma inhibited both the proliferation and differentiation of normal B cells only when added to the cultures at the early period of culture. If addition of seminal plasma was delayed beyond 5 to 6 days, it failed to inhibit IgG secretion. Seminal plasma did not show any inhibitory effect on A4 cells, but rather enhanced both the proliferation and IgG secretion of this B cell line. When the low and high mol. wt fractions of seminal plasma were tested for their biological effects on normal and transformed B cells, the low mol. wt fraction (less than 1 kD) was associated with the inhibitory effect of seminal plasma on normal B cells, whereas high mol. wt fractions (both dialysed and 1500‐kD fraction) was involved in the enhancing effect on A4 cells. We conclude that (i) seminal plasma inhibits the early proliferation of normal human B cells, but does not inhibit the antibody‐secreting capacity of mature B cells; and (ii) different molecules of seminal plasma act on the different stages of B cell maturation.