Interleukin-2-induced DNA synthesis and immunoglobulin secretion by resting human tonsillar B cells: effects of protein kinase C activation.

Responses to interleukin-2 (IL-2) of high-density human tonsillar B lymphocytes were examined in 20 microliters hanging drop microcultures. DNA synthesis and secretion of IgM and IgG were induced by IL-2 alone. Activation of calcium-dependent protein kinase C (PKC) with phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate and ionomycin increased IL-2 driven DNA synthesis yet reduced IL-2 driven secretion of IgM and IgG. Forskolin, which increases cAMP, had no effect on the responses to IL-2. Intrinsic IL-6 played no role in IL-2-induced DNA synthesis but was partially responsible for the secretion of immunoglobulin. These data show that pre-activation of the high-density human tonsillar B lymphocyte is not a prerequisite for IL-2-driven responses. They also show an asymmetry between the growth and differentiation induced by IL-2. This is reflected by opposite modulation on activation of PKC and by the role of the autocrine factor, IL-6.