CELLULAR BASIS OF INVITRO ANTI-DNA ANTIBODY-PRODUCTION - EVIDENCE FOR T-CELL DEPENDENCE OF IGG-CLASS ANTI-DNA ANTIBODY-SYNTHESIS IN THE (NZB X NZW)F1 HYBRID

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  • 15 February 1986
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 136  (4) , 1247-1252
Abstract
An in vitro system was designed to measure anti-DNA antibody synthesis, and the cellular basis of this autoantibody production in NZB .times. NZW (B/W)F1 (B/W F1) mice was analyzed. The spleen cells from old B/W F1 mice contained a number of B cells that spontaneously produced anti-DNA antibodies of both IgM and IgG classes in the absence of stimulants, thereby demonstrating that these B cells had been activated in vivo. These activated B cells could be removed by Sephadex G-10 column (G-10) filtration. Such G-10-passed, homogeneously small B cells were activated by the stimulant lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and produced both IgM and IgG class anti-DNA antibodies. The G-10-passed cells contained both B and T cells and the cytotoxic treatment of the cells with monoclonal antibodies to T cells anti-Thy-1 and anti-L3T4, abolished the LPS-induced IgG class, but not IgM class, anti-DNA antibody syntheses. Thus, the LPS-induced production of IgG class anti-DNA antibodies in B/W F1 mice is regulated by T cells. Reconstitution experiments revealed requirement of T-B cell contact but not of the proliferative response to T cells. Moreover, there was no apparent adherent cell requirement. Such IgG class anti-DNA antibodies were produced only by spleen cells from old B/W F1 mice, but not from young B/W F1. NZB, NZW, and C57BL/6 mice. Like IgM class anti-DNA antibodies, LPS-induced synthesis of polyclonal IgM was T cell-independent. Only a slight reduction in the polyclonal IgG synthesis was observed after the G-10-passed cells had been treated with anti-thy-1 antibody plus complement. This study should facilitate investigation of cell to cell interactions in the formation of autoantibodies and their correlations to immunologic abnormalities in autoimmune disease.

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