BUTYRATE ENHANCES THE IN-VITRO ANTI-SRBC (SHEEP RED-BLOOD-CELL) ANTIBODY-RESPONSES IN MURINE SPLENOCYTES

Butyrate at concentrations of 200-600 mu M markedly enhanced the in vi tro antibody productions against sheep red blood cells (SRBC) in murin e splenocytes. However, other saturated short-chain fatty acids, inclu ding acetate, propionate and valeric acid, and 4-carbon compounds such as butanol, acetoacetate and beta- and gamma-hydroxybutyrate had no s uch effects. The presence of butyrate in the early phase of the cell c ulture was crucial for enhancement of the response. Butyrate also augm ented the antibody production in T-cell-depleted splenocytes supplemen ted with the culture supernatant of concanavalin A (ConA)-stimulated l ymphocytes. Interleukin (IL)-2 secreted from splenocytes in response t o SRBC was increased by adding butyrate to the culture, but IL-1 secre tion was not affected. On the other hand, Con A or lipopolysaccharide- stimulated proliferation of splenocytes was partly depressed by the ad dition of butyrate, while Con A-induced IL-2 production was not effect ed. These findings suggest that butyrate may act on T and B cells to p romote their differentiation during the process of antibody production .