Selective regulation of B lymphocyte precursors by hormones
First Claim
1. A method for modulating production of committed mammalian B lymphocyte precursor cells in an animal that has normal bone marrow comprising exposing the cells to a hormone selected from the group consisting of hormones elevated during pregnancy, synthetic analogues of the hormones elevated during pregnancy, eliciting agents of the hormones elevated during pregnancy, and agents that interfere with the synthesis or activity of the hormones elevated during pregnancy, in an amount effective to alter selectively production of B lymphocyte precursor cells by proliferation or differentiation as compared with proliferation of mature B lymphocytes.
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Abstract
It has been determined that estrogen and other hormones elevated in pregnancy induce a specific modulation of lymphocyte precursor cell production. The immune system of an animal or bone marrow cells in culture can therefore be modulated in a specific manner by administration of hormones elevated during pregnancy, such as estrogen and estrogen-like compounds or compounds that interfere with the synthesis or activity of these hormones, to increase or decrease production of B lymphocyte precursor cells.
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Citations
13 Claims
- 1. A method for modulating production of committed mammalian B lymphocyte precursor cells in an animal that has normal bone marrow comprising exposing the cells to a hormone selected from the group consisting of hormones elevated during pregnancy, synthetic analogues of the hormones elevated during pregnancy, eliciting agents of the hormones elevated during pregnancy, and agents that interfere with the synthesis or activity of the hormones elevated during pregnancy, in an amount effective to alter selectively production of B lymphocyte precursor cells by proliferation or differentiation as compared with proliferation of mature B lymphocytes.
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