Cross‐reactivity of igm‐ and igg‐secreting b cells in autoimmune mice

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Abstract
Objective. To determine the frequency with which in vivo–activated B cells secrete cross‐reactive antibodies in lupus‐prone mice. Methods. Analysis of freshly isolated splenic lymphocytes by chamber enzyme‐linked immunospot assay. Results. Young New Zealand black, New Zealand black X New Zealand white, and MRL/lpr mice expressed repertoires in which 16–20% of IgM‐secreting cells and 0–2% of IgG‐secreting cells were crossreactive. By comparison, 21–31% of IgM‐ and 4–14% of IgG‐secreting cells in adult animals with active lupus were cross‐reactive (P < 0.01). Conclusion. Cross‐reactive B cells constitute an abnormally large proportion of the repertoire expressed in mice with active autoimmune disease.