SELECTIVE EFFECTS OF ANTI-IA SERUM AND COMPLEMENT TREATMENT UPON POLYCLONAL B LYMPHOCYTE-RESPONSES TO DEXTRAN SULFATE AND LIPOPOLYSACCHARIDE

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 123  (5) , 2298-2303
Abstract
Subpopulations of B [bone marrow-derived] lymphocytes [mouse] vary in their expression of Ia alloantigens and polyclonal responsiveness to thymic independent antigens. The polyclonal B cell antibody response to dextran sulfate is less sensitive to removal of Ia-positive cells than is the response to LPS [lipopolysaccharide]. This is a consistent finding whether alloantibody and complement (C) pretreatment is directed toward cells bearing Ia antigens coded for by the entire I region or by the I-A or I-E subregions. Heterogeneity appears to exist within the dextran sulfate-sensitive population in that using high antibody:cell ratios during antibody and C-mediated cell selection results in an inhibition of the proliferative but not the antibody response. This result may indicate a differential expression of Ia antigens on dextran sulfate-sensitive B cells that response by proliferation vs. those cells that produce antibody. Proliferative responses to dextran sulfate may be more dependent on Ia-positive accessory cells than is the polyclonal antibody response.