Neuropeptides are potent modulators of human <i>in vitro</i> immunoglobulin E synthesis

AbstractWe determined the effect of adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) on the regulation of IgE synthesis. Depending on the concentration, ACTH enhanced or inhibited IgE synthesis in a culture system where IgE synthesis was induced with interleukin‐4 (IL‐4) and anti‐CD40 monoclonal antibody in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Similar effects on IgE synthesis were observed by adding ACTH‐related peptides, e.g. corticotropin‐releasing factor (CRF), the inducer of ACTH, or α‐melanocyte stimulating hormone (α‐MSH), a cleavage product of ACTH. However, ACTH had no effect on IgG or IgM synthesis in this culture system. ACTH did not act directly on either B or T cells as there was no influence on IgE synthesis in a system using purified B cells alone or co‐cultured with T cells. The effect of ACTH on IgE synthesis was mediated by accessory cells. This was shown by priming purified CD14‐positive monocytes with ACTH and reconstitution experiments. Therefore, these findings suggest that ACTH and the related peptides CRF and α‐MSH can influence the microenvironment modulating an IL‐4 and anti‐CD40 monoclonal antibody driven class switching to IgE via accessory cells.

Neuropeptides are potent modulators of human in vitro immunoglobulin E synthesis Journal Articles