Characterization of IL-6 production by B cells.

IL-6 production by antigen-specific and antigen-non-specific B cells was studied. It was found that low concentrations of antigen (0.001 micrograms/ml) could stimulate IL-6 production by antigen-specific B cells (10(3)-10(4) fold lower concentration of antigen when compared with that of antigen-nonspecific B cells). A kinetic study showed that IL-6 activity in supernatants from antigen-specific B cells was detectable as early as 2 hours. The production of IL-6 by non-specific B cells and by monocytes was distinctly different. These results suggest that antigen-specific B cells may play a critical role in early T cell activation by antigen.