Rlk. Paterson et al., REGULATION OF CD23 EXPRESSION BY IL-4 AND CORTICOSTEROID IN HUMAN B-LYMPHOCYTES - ALTERED RESPONSE AFTER EBV INFECTION, The Journal of immunology, 152(5), 1994, pp. 2139-2147
Cellular CD23 has been implicated in various biologic and pathologic p
rocesses. Here, we have studied the regulation of B cell CD23 expressi
on and function by the synthetic corticosteroid, dexamethasone (DEX).
We report that DEX acts directly on B lymphocytes to down-regulate IL-
4-induced CD23 expression, whereas in parallel the IL-4R is up-regulat
ed. Down-regulation of CD23 occurred at the cell surface and for shed
material in culture medium. EBV infection of B cells is linked to deve
lopment of lymphoproliferative diseases, including lymphoma, and there
is evidence that EBV-stimulated CD23 expression may be instrumental i
n the inappropriate survival of infected cells. We have determined tha
t treatment of EBV-infected cells with IL-4 leads to a synergistic up-
regulation of B cell CD23. Furthermore, infection of B cells by EBV in
troduced a relative resistance to the down-regulatory effects of DEX o
n IL-4-induced CD23 expression.