In vitro antigen stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) does not induce immunoglobulin (Ig) production. However, pretreatment of PBMCs with l-leucyl-l-leucine methyl ester (LLME) prior to in vitro stimulation removes the suppression of Ig production. In the present study, we attempted to identify the target cells of LLME and determine the mechanisms by which Ig production in PBMCs is suppressed. We found that CD14(+) monocytes are involved in the suppression of Ig production in PBMCs. Furthermore, we confirmed that heavy-chain ferritin derived from CD14(+) monocytes suppresses Ig production in PBMCs, possibly through iron sequestration.
Keywords: DFO; Ferritin; Human PBMCs; Ig; Immune suppression; Immunoglobulin production; LLME; LSM; Monocytes; PBMCs; deferoxamine mesylate; immunoglobulin; l-leucyl-l-leucine methyl ester; lymphocyte separation medium; peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
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