Suppressive Role of B Cells in Chronic Colitis of T Cell Receptor α Mutant Mice

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Abstract
The role of antibodies (Abs) in the development of chronic colitis in T cell receptor (TCR)-α−/− mice was explored by creating double mutant mice (TCR-α−/− × immunoglobulin (Ig)μ−/−), which lack B cells. TCR-α−/− × Igμ−/− mice spontaneously developed colitis at an earlier age, and the colitis was more severe than in TCR-α−/− mice. Colitis was induced in recombination-activating gene-1 (RAG-1−/−) mice by the transfer of mesenteric lymph node (MLN) cells from TCR-α−/− × Igμ−/− mice. When purified B cells from TCR-α−/− mice were mixed with MLN cells before cell transfer, colitis did not develop in RAG-1−/− mice. Administration of the purified Ig from TCR-α−/− mice and a mixture of monoclonal autoAbs reactive with colonic epithelial cells led to attenuation of colitis in TCR-α−/− × Igμ−/− mice. Apoptotic cells were increased in the colon, MLN, and spleen of TCR-α−/− × Igμ−/− mice as compared to Igμ−/− mice and TCR-α−/− mice. Administration of the purified Ig from TCR-α−/− mice into TCR-α−/− × Igμ−/− mice led to decrease in the number of apoptotic cells. These findings suggest that although B cells are not required for the initiation of colitis, B cells and Igs (autoAbs) can suppress colitis, presumably by affecting the clearance of apoptotic cells.