Activation and immunoregulation of antigen-specific human b lymphocyte responses: multifaceted role of the monocyte.

The multifaceted role of the monocyte in the induction and modulation of antigen-specific antibody responses by human B cells was delineated. Monocytes were absolutely required for the induction of specific antibody responses to both TT and KLH in an antigen-induced in vitro assay. Monocytes were also required for the PWM induction of specific antibody in immunized subjects. Pulsing monocytes with specific antigen or with PWM consistently stimulated proliferation of T cells in absence of added antigen and could also stimulate specific antibody synthesis although less consistently. Stimulation of specific antibody responses with antigen required fewer numbers of monocytes than did stimulation of specific antibody responses with PWM. Polyclonal antibody synthesis induced by PWM was also dependent on monocytes. However, polyclonal antibody synthesis induced by supraoptimal concentrations of antigen was usually optimal in the absence of monocytes and was actually suppressed when increased numbers of monocytes were added to monocyte-depleted cultures. Monocyte supernatants could not replace the absolute requirements for monocytes in the induction of specific antibody synthesis. However, monocyte supernatants could profoundly modulate the antigen-specific as well as the polyclonal Ig response of lymphocytes to either antigen or PWM stimulation in a manner closely resembling monocytes themselves. Thus, we demonstrated that monocytes and their products play a critical role in the activation and immunoregulation of antigen-specific antibody responses of human B cells.