Leukotriene B4 enhances activation, proliferation, and differentiation of human B lymphocytes.

Highly purified human tonsillar B lymphocytes at different stages of activation were incubated with leukotriene B4 (LTB4). As a key marker for activation, we used the CD23 Ag. LTB4 enhanced the CD23 expression on resting B cells in synergy with B cell-stimulating factors from 4% to 50%. Maximal effect of LTB4 was observed at 10(-10) M to 10(-12) M. LTB4 also augmented the S and M phase entries as well as Ig secretion in synergy with IL-2 and IL-4. In contrast, 5S,12S-dihydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid, an isomer of LTB4, and leukotriene C4 lacked these effects. The results indicate that LTB4 amplifies lymphokine-driven activation, replication, and differentiation of human B lymphocytes.