The extract of syngeneic keratinocytes enhances IgE production from BALB/c mouse splenic lymphocytes in vitro.

The increase of serum IgE levels is closely associated with atopic dermatitis. We have previously revealed that cellular extract of PAM212 cells (PAM-extract), BALB/c mouse keratinocyte cell line, induced a remarkable increase of serum IgE levels, in vivo, when subcutaneously injected into BALB/c mice. However, precise mechanism of IgE-increasing activity was unclear. To elucidate the mechanism of IgE-increase in sera of BALB/c mice induced by PAM-extract, we explored the direct influence of PAM-extract on immunoglobulin production and class-switching in the culture of splenic lymphocytes and purified B-cells, in vitro. Splenic lymphocytes or purified B-cells obtained from BALB/c mice were cultured with various combinations of IL-4, anti-CD40 antibody, and PAM-extract for 7 days. IgE and IgG concentrations of culture supernatants were measured by ELISA. Epsilon germ-line transcriptions were assessed by RT-PCR from the cultured cells. IgE and IgG concentrations in culture supernatant of splenic lymphocytes were increased by an addition of PAM-extract in the presence of both IL-4 and anti-CD40 antibody. Epsilon germ-line transcript was also induced in parallel to the increase of IgE production. Similar results were obtained when purified B-cells were employed in stead of whole splenic lymphocytes. The enhancement of IgE production in vitro was also observed, when splenic lymphocytes of CBAj mouse were cultured with cellular extract of KCMH-1 cells, CBAj mouse keratinocyte cell line. The cellular extract of keratinocyte promotes immunoglobulin class-switching to IgE and IgE production from mouse splenic B-cells in an IL-4- and CD40-stimuli-dependent manner. Such enhancement may account for the increase of serum IgE in patients with dermatitis in association with a Th2 microenvironment.