Effects of sex steroids on immunoglobulin M production by Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B-cell line SKW6-CL4

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Abstract
The effects of estradiol (E2), progesterone (P), and testosterone (T) on the production of immunoglobulin (Ig) M by Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B-cell line, SKW6-CL4, were investigated. Interleukin 6 (IL-6) induced IgM production by SKW6-CL4 cells in a dose-dependent manner without any significant increase in thymidine incorporation. E2 at concentrations ranging from 10−10 to 10−9 M enhanced IL-6-induced IgM production by SKW6-CL4 cells, whereas E2 at a high concentration of 10−7 M inhibited both the IgM production and the growth of SKW6-CL4 cells. Time-course studies revealed that E2 acts in the early phase of differentiation of SKW6-CL4 cells in response to IL-6. On the other hand, P and T at physiological and superphysiological levels did not influence either the IgM production or the proliferation of SKW6-CL4 cells. These findings suggest a direct immunoregulatory effect of E2 on human B lineage cells and support the concept that E2 may have a role in the pathogenesis of some autoimmune diseases.