IL-5 enhances in vitro and in vivo antigen-specific IgA production in MHC genetically determined low IL-5 responder mice.

Lymphonode cells from BALB/k mice, but not from BALB/c mice, immunized with picryl chloride (PCl) produce IL-5 when stimulated with the specific antigen in vitro and this correlates with picryl-specific IgA levels in vivo, which are 6 to 10 times higher in BALB/k mice. B lymphocytes from BALB/k mice cultured with PCl-immune T cells from BALB/k produce in vivo anti-PCl-IgA, while B lymphocytes from BALB/c mice, cultured with T cells from BALB/c mice, fail to produce appreciable amounts of anti-PCl IgA, unless IL-5 is added to cultures. B lymphocytes from both strains of mice produce similar amounts of total IgA antibodies when stimulated in vitro with lipopolysaccharide. In vivo administration of IL-5 to BALB/c mice increases significantly PCl-specific IgA levels to those observed in BALB/k mice and a dose-response analysis reveals that 500 units of IL-5 was the minimal effective dose, although a small increase in PCl-specific IgA levels was observed with 100 units of IL-5. Total IgA levels were increased in both strains of mice following in vivo injection of IL-5, but no significant difference in the values was observed. Our results therefore indicate that IL-5 in vivo enhances antigen-specific IgA production in MHC-determined low IL-5 responder mice and suggest an explanation for IgA deficiency in humans.