Immune Netw.  2006 Sep;6(3):138-144. 10.4110/in.2006.6.3.138.

Effect of Dexamethasone on the Surface Expression of Marker Molecules and Differentiation of Murine B Cells

• Yeo SG
• Park DC
• Cha CI

• KMID: 1808158
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4110/in.2006.6.3.138

Abstract

BACKGROUND: There are at least two different subsets of B cells, B-1 and B-2. The characteristic features and function of B-2 cells in addition to the effect of steroids on B-2 cells are well-known. Although B-1 cells have different features and functions from B-2 cells, the effect of steroids on B-1 cells is not completely understood. Therefore, this study examined the effects of dexamethasone on peritoneal (or B-1 cells) and splenic B cells (or B-2 cells).
METHODS
Purified B cells were obtained from the peritoneal fluid and the spleens of mice. The isolated B cells were cultured in a medium and after adding different concentrations of dexamaethasone. The cell survival rate was measured by flow cytometry using propidium iodide. The expression level of the B cell surface marker was analyzed by flow cytometry. During the culture of these cells, immunoglobulin secreted into the culture supernatants was evaluated by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
RESULTS
The survival rate of peritoneal and splenic B cells decreased with increasing dexamethasone concentration. However, the rate of peritoneal B cell apoptosis was lower than that of splenic B cells. CD5 and B7.1 expression in peritoneal B cells and CD23 and sIgM expression in splenic B cells after the dexamethasone treatment were reduced. When B cells were treated with dexamethasone, the spontaneous IgM secretion decreased with increasing dexamethasone concentration.
CONCLUSION
Dexamethasone induces apoptosis in peritoneal and splenic B cells. However, peritoneal B cells are less sensitive to dexamethasone. The dexamethasone suppressed expression of the surface markers in peritoneal B cells is different from those in splenic B cells.

Keyword

Dexamethasone; peritoneal B cell; splenic B cell

MeSH Terms

Animals
Apoptosis
Ascitic Fluid
B-Lymphocytes*
Cell Survival
Dexamethasone*
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Flow Cytometry
Immunoglobulin M
Immunoglobulins
Mice
Propidium
Spleen
Steroids
Survival Rate
Dexamethasone
Immunoglobulin M
Immunoglobulins
Propidium
Steroids