1. Nerve growth factor is an autocrine survival factor for memory B lymphocytes.
- Author
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Torcia M, Bracci-Laudiero L, Lucibello M, Nencioni L, Labardi D, Rubartelli A, Cozzolino F, Aloe L, and Garaci E
- Subjects
- Animals, Antibody Specificity, B-Lymphocyte Subsets chemistry, B-Lymphocyte Subsets cytology, Cell Survival immunology, Cells, Cultured chemistry, Cells, Cultured cytology, Cells, Cultured metabolism, Female, Humans, Immunophenotyping, Mice, Mice, Inbred BALB C, Nerve Growth Factors immunology, Nerve Growth Factors metabolism, Neutralization Tests, Proto-Oncogene Proteins biosynthesis, Proto-Oncogene Proteins physiology, Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases biosynthesis, Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases physiology, Receptor, trkA, Receptors, Cell Surface analysis, Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor biosynthesis, Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor physiology, B-Lymphocyte Subsets metabolism, Immunologic Memory immunology, Nerve Growth Factors biosynthesis
- Abstract
Production of nerve growth factor (NGF) was assessed in cultures of human T and B lymphocytes and macrophages. NGF was constitutively produced by B cells only, which also expressed surface p140trk-A and p75NGFR molecules and hence efficiently bound and internalized the cytokine. Neutralization of endogenous NGF caused disappearance of Bcl-2 protein and apoptotic death of resting lymphocytes bearing surface IgG or IgA, a population comprising memory cells, while surface IgM/IgD "virgin" B lymphocytes were not affected. In vivo administration of neutralizing anti-NGF antibodies caused strong reduction in the titer of specific IgG in mice immunized with tetanus toxoid, nitrophenol, or arsonate and reduced numbers of surface IgG or IgA B lymphocytes. Thus, NGF is an autocrine survival factor for memory B lymphocytes.
- Published
- 1996
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