ABNORMAL B-CELL RESPONSE OF PROTEIN-KINASE-C IN SOME COMMON VARIABLE IMMUNODEFICIENCY

The localization of protein kinase C (PKC) was investigated in B cells or B cell lines derived from patients with common variable immunodefi ciency (CVI) and healthy controls. Stimulation of healthy control B ce lls by phorbol ester or anti-mu induced PKC activation and translocati on to the plasma membrane after 10 min. In contrast, in the CVI-B cell s, no apparent PKC translocation was induced by either phorbol ester o r anti-mu stimulation. These results suggest that the pathogenesis in some CVI patients might involve defects in the pathway of PKC activati on.