Figure 4

Effect of antagonist on B- and plasma-cells in vitro and in vivo. In vitro: hPBMC (n = 8) were incubated in the presence of 50 ng IL-4 or 50 ng IL-4 + 500 ng Pitrakinra for 14 days. The number of B-cells CD19+ and plasma cells CD19+ + CD 138+ was determined in 100 μl of cell suspensions. Statistical analysis revealed that the difference in Plasma-cells in the “IL-4” group was significant (ANOVA, F = 6.3, p = 0.01). In vivo: Mice were engrafted with hPBMC and left without treatment (No, n = 9), treated with 10 μg IL-4 in methylcellulose (n = 18), and IL-4 + Antagonist in methylcellulose (n = 12). The percentage of B- and plasma cells of human lymphocytes was determined. Statistical analysis revealed that the difference in B-cells in the “IL-4” group was significant (Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test, p = 0.03).