Murine responses to (Tyr-Glu-Ala-Gly)n: II. H-2 and non-H-2 gene effects

Mice of the H-2^b haplotype responded to the sequential polymer poly(Tyr-Glu-Ala-Gly) in the in vitro T-cell proliferative assay, irrespective of whether they were homozygous or heterozygous at the H-2^b locus. The antibody responses of the H-2^b congenic mice to this polymer were variable, with A.BY and BALB.B showing responses better than those of C57BL/6 and C57BL/10 strains. The antibody responses of the F₁ progeny of (responder × nonresponder) strains of mice to this polymer are generally lower than the responder parents. F₁ mice with C57BL/10 background were the poorest responders. Studies with F₂ mice and backcross progenies of selective breeding of high and low antibody responder (C57BL/6 × BALB/c) F₁ to high responder C57BL/6 mice indicated that both non-H-2 genes and H-2 gene dosage effects influenced the magnitude of the humoral antibody responses. Animals having low responder non-H-2 background and only half the dosage of the responder immune response genes has greatly diminished antibody responses.     

Activation of T and B thymus cells to recognize histocompatibility antigens

Lethally irradiated (A × CBA) F₁ or (A × C57BL/6) F₁ mice were injected with 10⁷ A strain thymus cells in attempts to activate donor cells to recognize CBA or C57BL/6 histocompatibility antigens, respectively. Activation could be revealed by injecting activated thymus cells (day 5 irradiated F₁ hybrid spleen cells) into corresponding unirradiated F₁ hybrid hosts. The alloantibody titers formed by these cells and the antirecognition structure (anti-RS) antibody titers induced by them were similar to those observed after injection of normal parental strain spleen cells, indicating that thymus cells had become endowed with recognition structures (RS). Alloantibodies, but no anti-RS antibodies, were present in the serum of F₁ mice given activated thymus cells treated with anti-θ and complement. It, therefore, appeared that activated thymus cells contained sufficient B cells differentiated into antibody-forming cells to give a measurable alloantibody response. On the other hand, receptors responsible for anti-RS antibody induction presumably were located on T cells. Specificity and restriction of antigenic recognition were revealed by negative results obtained when activated thymus cells were injected into F₁ hosts not containing the antigens against which activation had been directed.     

T-cell neoplasm induced by subcutaneous transplantation of a plasmacytoma: characterization of tumor cells.

Thymocytes, isolated 6 days following subcutaneous (sc) transplantation of BALB/c MOPC-315 plasmacytoma into F₁ (BALB/c × C57BL) hybrid mice, when injected sc into normal syngeneic mice, caused the development of a solid sc tumor. The cells of the newly developed tumor were of a mixed population of θ⁺F₁ (BALB/c × C57BL) and θ^? BALB/c cells (approximately 1:1), which represents a new type of mixed T cell-plasma cell neoplasm. Efforts were made to isolate the transformed thymocytes (θ⁺) from the plasmacytoma (θ^?) cells in the new tumor, exploiting differences in their surface properties. Treatment of the mixed tumor cell population with peanut agglutinin (PNA) revealed that only the T tumor cells were agglutinated. The agglutinated cells were recovered after dispersing the clumps with d-galactose (0.15 M) and consisted of 95% θ⁺ cells. The PNA-agglutinated cells were found to induce a similar tumor (85% θ⁺ cells) when injected sc into F₁ (BALB/c × C57BL) mice.     

Age-related changes in the cellular immune response of lymph node and thymus cells in long-lived mice.

Relative capabilities of lymph node and thymus cells from (C57BL/6J) × Balb/cJ) F₁-hybrid mice and from (C57BL/6J × 129J)F₁—hybrid mice 6, 20, and 30 mo of age to respond in the mixed lymphocyte reaction were assessed. Both the direct response and the ability to synergize with partner lymph node or thymus cells were studied. Lymph node cells demonstrated an age-related decline both in responding directly to stimulation by allogeneic cells, and in ability to synergize with syngeneic thymocytes. Thymus cells showed an age-related increase in response to direct stimulation, and no clear-cut age-related change in synergizing capability. In these long-lived mouse strains at least one cause of the age-related decline in cellular immunity relates to developing deficiencies in the recirculating lymphoid pool, probably T₂ cells.     

Strain Differences in the Immunogenicity of Aggregated Human IgG and the Adjuvant Action of Lipopolysaccharide on the Low-Responder Strain of Mice

Strain differences in the antibody response to human IgG (HGG) were observed when aggregated HGG was injected intravenously. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administered subsequently markedly enhanced the antibody response to HGG in low responder C57BL/6 mice as compared with that in high responder DDD, C3H/He or (C57BL/6 × DDD)F₁ mice. Aggregate-free preparation of HGG at a dose of 0.5 mg induced immunological tolerance in all strains of mice tested. LPS injected subsequently converted tolerogenic, aggregate-free HGG into immunogen in DDD mice but not in C57BL/6 mice. To determine the correlation between adjuvanticity and mitogenicity of LPS, spleen cells from normal mice were cultured in the presence of LPS and ³H-thymidine uptake was measured. Spleen cells of DDD mice incorporated three times as much ³H-thymidine as those of C57BL/6 mice. There seems no strong correlation between both activities of LPS. The data obtained are discussed in terms of strain differences in the macrophage function for processing the antigen.     

Trypanosoma cruzi: Effect on B-cell-responsive and -responding clones

During the course of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in C57BL/6 mice, which are relatively resistant to the parasite, the hosts developed antibody activity against previously unencountered antigens. The anti-sheep erythrocyte and antitrinitrophenyl antibody levels increased rapidly from Day 7 of infection, reached a peak by the 21st day, and were maintained at this level through 120 days postinfection in these mice. In contrast, highly susceptible C3H(He) mice did not have demonstrable antibody responses to SRBC or TNP during the 24-day infection period. Autoantibody activity against the selfantigens presented on isologous erythrocytes or thymocytes, however, were reduced in infected C57BL/6 mice. No significant reduction in autoreactivity to the self-antigens on erythrocytes or thymocytes was observed in C3H(He) mice infected with T. cruzi although a trend of reduced autoresponsiveness toward erythrocytes appeared to be developing by the time of death. C57BL/6 mice immunized with sheep erythrocytes as neonates and infected with T. cruzi as adults, or adult mice primed with low doses of sheep erythrocytes prior to infection, had elevated antibody responses to sheep erythrocytes unless the mice were immunized with sheep erythrocytes during the course of infection, in which case suppression of the response against sheep erythrocytes resulted. The nonspecific synthesis of immunoglobulins in infected C57BL/6 mice was, in part, a result of the lymphocyteactivating properties of T. cruzi-associated antigens. The T. cruzi-associated antigens induced proliferative and differentiative responses in spleen cells in vitro. It is proposed that the T. cruzi-associated antigens differentially affect lymphocytes capable of responding to antigen and those lymphocytes previously stimulated by antigen.     

Comparison of the ease of tolerance induction in thymus and bone marrow of three strains of mice

Three strains of mice which vary in their susceptibility to induction of immune tolerance with human gamma-globulin were studied to evaluate the cellular basis for their sensitivity to induction of the unresponsive state. Tolerance induction in BALB/c mice was difficult to establish, while tolerance induction was easily achieved in C57BL/6 and CBF₁ (BALB/c × C57BL/6) mice. The degree of unresponsiveness obtained with various tolerogen doses in intact C57BL/6 and CBF₁ mice was reflected in the sensitivity of their thymocytes to the production of the unresponsive state. In the BALB/c mouse strain slight immune suppression observed at low tolerogen doses was correlated with bone marrow cell unresponsiveness while significant levels of tolerance observed at a high tolerogen dose was due to suppression of thymus cells. It was apparent that CBF₁ mice had inherited both thymus cells and bone marrow cells which exhibited the sensitivity to induction of immune tolerance characteristic of those same cells of their C57BL/6 parent.     

Genetic control of the immune response of mice to type III pneumococcal polysaccharide

BALBc mice immunized with Type III pneumococcal polysaccharide (SIII) had higher numbers of IgM plaque-forming cells (PFC) in the spleen than similarly immunized C57BL/Ks mice. The F₁ hybrids of these two strains had intermediate numbers of SIII-specific PFC. Analysis of the responses of F₂ and backcross strains indicated that the observed responses were compatible with results expected for control of the immune response to SIII at a single autosomal locus.     

H-Y antigen: No evidence for alleles in wild strains of mice

H-Y antigen(s) coded or controlled by the Y chromosome in a variety of wild mouse strains have been compared with those of the inbred laboratory strains C57BL/6 (B6) and C57BL/10 (B10). H-Y antigen(s) were detected by H-2-restricted cytotoxic T cells from B6 and B10 female mice primed in vivo and boosted in vitro with syngeneic male spleen cells: There was no difference in the degree of H-Y specific lysis of male cells from the C57BL strains and of F₁ hybrids or B6 congenic mice carrying the Y chromosome from the wild mouse strains examined. This result indicated that at the level of target cell specificity the H-Y antigen(s) from wild and laboratory strains were indistinguishable. H-Y antigen(s) were also found to be indistinguishable at the level of the in vitro induction of the anti H-Y cytotoxic response: F₁ female mice, primed in vivo and boosted in vitro with homologous F₁ male cells, all made H-Y-specific responses and where it could be examined, the target cell specificity of the anti-H-Y cytotoxic cells showed that B10 male cells as well as the homologous F₁ male cells (where the Y chromosome was derived from the wild strain) were good targets. Finally, possible differences in H-Y transplantation antigens between the wild strains and the B10 laboratory strain were examined by grafting F₁ male mice, the progeny of B10 females, and wild strain males with B10 male skin. These grafts were not rejected during an observation period of more than 9 months. Taken together, neither the cytotoxic data nor the skin graft data provide any evidence for allelism of H-Y even though the mouse strains examined were collected from widely disparate geographical locations.     

Genetic Differences in Androgen Receptors and in Autoregulation of Testicular Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Binding Sites in the Mouse

Abstract

The autoregulation of testicular human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) binding sites was studied in two strains of mice known to differ in their endocrine and reproductive characteristics (C57BL/10J and DBA/2J), and in their F₁ progeny (B10D2F₁). Basal hCG binding levels were higher in C57BL/10J than in DBA/2J mice, while B10D2F₁ mice had intermediate levels. Twenty-four h after injection, hCG produced dose-related changes in hCG binding in C57BL/10J and B10D2F₁ mice not observed in DBA/2J mice. However, 72 h after treatment with hCG there was a decrease in hCG binding in all the strains studied. These results suggest the participation of genetic factors in determining basal levels, dose-related changes and temporal response of testicular hCG binding sites to hCG administration. Androgen receptor levels were measured in the same strains of mice. DBA/2J mice had higher receptor levels in the kidney and coagulating gland, and lower levels in the hypothalamus and seminal vesicle when compred to C57BL/10J mice. B10D2F₁ mice had androgen receptor levels similar to those measured in C57BL/10J mice in all tissues studied, with the exception of the coagulating gland, where levels were similar to those observed in DBA/ZJ mice. These observations may indicate the existence of several loci coding for androgen receptors, with only one being expressed per tissue     

Inheritance of an isoelectrically focused spectrotype linked to theIg-1 b allotype

The primary anti-NP response in C57BL/6 and CBA mice was analyzed by isoelectric focusing. Antibody responses in C57 mice were restricted in heterogeneity and over 80 % of this strain shared an isoelectric focusing spectrum characteristic of an homogeneous antibody (spectrotype). This spectrotype N-l was inherited as a dominant characteristic in (CBA×C57)F₁ mice, and backcross analysis revealed that it was genetically linked to the heavy chain allotypeIg-1 ^b . It thus behaved as a marker similar to the fine specificity characteristic of heteroclitic antibody. Elution studies showed that antibody with the spectrotype N-1 was heteroclitic, with a higher affinity for NIP and NNP than for the immunogen NP. It is argued that a) a single germ-lineV gene (designated N-1) codes for the V_H region of this antibody and b) in C57BL/6 mice this geneV _H N-1 is closely linked toIg-1 ^b .Abbreviations BSA bovine serum albumin - CG Chicken globulin - NP (4-Hydroxy-3-nitrophenyl)acetyl - NIP (4-Hydroxy-5-iodo-3-nitrophenyl)acetyl - NBrP (4 Hydroxy-5-bromo-3-nitrophenyl)acetyl - NNP (4-Hydroxy-3,5-dinitrophenyl)acetyl - NIP-Cap NIP-aminocaproate - I₅₀ Hapten concentration causing 50% inhibition of antigen binding - SRC Sheep red cells - IEF Isoelectric focusing - PBS Phosphate buffered saline, pH 7.4     

Xenogeneic antisera against T-lymphocyte receptors recognizing allogeneic transplantation antigens: Preparation and properties

Antireceptor sera ARS-1 (anti-CBA-anti-C57BL/6) and ARS-2 (anti-C57BL/6-anti-BALB/c) were prepared in a xenogeneic system by immunizing rabbits with alloimmune CBA anti-C57BL/6 and C57BL/6 anti-BALB/c lymphocytes and subsequent exhaustive absorption of rabbit immune sera with red blood cells, lymphocytes, liver cells, and serum from intact mice. In the cytotoxicity test, both ARS sera lysed only activated T lymphocytes of corresponding, but no other specificities, and did not affect intact lymphocytes. They did not inactivate in vitro the PFC-producing antibodies to SRBC or inhibit the immune response to SRBC and Viantigen of Salmonella typhi in adoptive transfer experiments. Pretreatment of intact CBA lymphocytes in vitro with ARS-1 plus complement suppressed their ability to induce lethal GvH disease in irradiated (CBA × C57BL/6)F₁, but not (CBA × BALB/c)F₁ recipients; similar pretreatment of C57BL/6 lymphocytes did not lower lethality among irradiated (CBA × C57BL/6)F₁ recipients. This method of preparing ARS may help to obtain highly specific antireceptor sera for regulation of the immune response to different antigens in outbred animals and in humans.     

Immunosuppressive activity of murine newborn spleen cells. I. Selective inhibition of in vitro lymphocyte activation.

Cell-mediated immune responses to newborn lymphocyte alloantigens were investiated using mitogen activation, mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) and cell-mediated lympholysis (CML). Spleen cells from 1- to 5-day-old (C57BL/6 × Balb/c) F₁ mice co-cultured with maternal strain (BALB/c) splenocytes did not affect DNA synthesis of maternal strain cells in the presence of concanavalin A or phytohemagglutinin. Newborn cells did inhibit the lipopolysaccharide response of maternal strain lymphocytes and these cells also depressed DNA synthesis when added to MLR cultures of BALB/c and C57BL/6 spleen cells. Newborn cells expressed poor stimulatory capacity in semiallogeneic MLR and also caused marked inhibition of DNA synthesis when added to semiallogeneic MLR containing BALB/c (responder) and CB6F₁ adult splenocytes (stimulator). The suppression of MLR by neonatal cells persisted for the first 2 weeks of life and was associated with a soluble factor released during culture. The suppressive activity was almost completely abrogated after depleting the T-cells from newborn splenocytes. However, these same cells did not interfere with the in vitro generation of cytotoxic lymphocytes in the CML assay. The selective immunosuppressive properties of newborn spleen cells may be important during pregancy by protecting the immunologically alien fetus from rejection by the mother.     

DonorIgh-linked genetic control of allotype-specific antibody response

Immunogenicity of allogeneic immunoglobulins in mice were studied, measuring the allotype-specific antibody activity by agglutination of allogeneic antibody-coated red blood cells. It was found that the serum from C.B-20 mice (Igh ^b , BALB/c-congenic) was uniquely immunogenic in BALB/c mice for allotype antibody response. Whereas the C57BL/6 (Igh ^b ) serum was immunogenic only when heat aggregated and/or combined with adjuvant, the ultracentrifugation-deaggregated C.B-20 serum was definitely immunogenic when administered in a moderate dose (100 μl/mouse). Even more surprising was the fast that very low doses (0.01–0.1 μl) of soluble C.B-20 serum, but not C57BL/6 serum, down regulated the allotype-specific response effectively. Genetic analysis on congenic mice suggested that the immunogenicity is controlled by donorIgh orIgh-V(Id-C.B) inasmuch as the serum from BALB/c-congenic C.B-20 (Igh-V ^b C ^b ), but not BALB/c-congenic BAB/14 (Igh-V ^a C ^b ), mice was active in BALB/c mice in soluble form. Further studies showed that the Id-C.B was dominantly expressed on the immunoglobulins of (BALB/c×C.B-20)F₁ and (C56BL/6×C.B-20)F₁ strains, and was originally derived from the C57BL/Ka strain. The major determinant for the antibody production was encoded inIgh-C, but not inIgh-V. It is suggested thatId-C.B controls the allotype-specific antibody response in an unusual manner, possibly acting as a unique determinant activating helper T cells.     

Separation of T and B lymphocytes from various mouse strains by density gradient electrophoresis

T and B mouse spleen lymphocytes were separated by density gradient electrophoresis on the basis of their surface charge. In all strains examined, the T lymphocytes were found in the high mobility fractions and the B in the low. The T and B cells were separated completely in most fractions, with some overlapping in the middle. Significant differences were found in the electrophoretic distribution profiles between the strains: C57BL/6j, C57BL/10j, (BALB/cXC57BL/6j)F₁, and all the following: B₆·C-H-2^d/cBy (congenic to C57BL/6j), BALB/c, CBA/H/T6j, C57BL/10Sn, and C3H. The C57BL/6j and the (BALB/cXC57BL/6j)F₁ cells appear more heterogeneous as far as electrophoretic mobility is concerned. Almost all the other strains give two major peaks. Moreover, the high mobility areas are less populated in the C57BL/6j and the (BALB/cXC57BL/6j)F₁ animals than in all the others. The above differences were found consistently when cells prepared by different methods were electrophoresed. It is concluded that the surface charge of lymphocytes may be genetically determined. Possible dependency on the H-2 complex or non-H-2 areas is discussed.     

Bone marrow determination of complement dependent and complement independent cellular cytotoxicity

Adoptive transfer of both bone marrow and thymus cells is needed in lethally irradiated syngeneic mice to elicit CICC and CDCC responses against SRBC as assayed by the ⁵¹Cr-release cytotoxic test. The contribution of thymocytes to both CDCC and CICC was assessed by limiting dilution assays in BDF₁ and CDF₁ mice. Irradiated mice were reconstituted with a large number of bone marrow cells and graded limiting numbers of thymocytes, and were then immunized with SRBC. The limiting dilution plots conformed to the Poisson Model for both types of responses and both strains of mice. The numbers of thymocytes required for about 63% of the recipient spleens to be positive (i.e., the inoculum sizes containing one detectable antigen reactive unit) were similar for both CDCC and CICC ($\text{1}\text{1.8}\text{× 10}{}^7$ thymocytes) in both strains. Chi-square tests, at the 0.01 level of significance, were incompatible with the hypothesis that CICC and CDCC are independent of each other. Limiting dilutions of bone marrow cells with larger numbers of thymus cells, using CDF₁ mice, showed a non-Poisson curve for both CICC and CDCC. Chi-square values were compatible with the hypothesis of independent assortment of responses, as if the potential of the majority of precursors were restricted to either CICC or CDCC, but not to both. In contrast, BDF₁ mice showed a Poisson curve for CDCC and a non-Poisson curve for CICC. Chi-square values were also compatible with independent assortment of responses.     

Strain difference in T-cell regulation of antibody response to polyvinylpyrrolidone.

Antibody response to polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), one of the thymus-independent antigens, was assessed by a passive hemagglutination test and a plaque-forming cell assay in three inbred mouse strains. C3H/He, AKR, and C57BL/6 mice were assigned to groups of high, intermediate, and low responders, respectively. This strain difference appears to be ascribable to the differences in the regulatory functions of T cells and in the responsiveness of B cells, as suggested by the antibody responses in mice partially or almost completely depleted of T cells. Genetic analysis of F₁ hybrids and their backcrosses suggested that at least two genes control the antibody response to PVP: One gene may regulate the responsiveness of B cells and another may govern the functions of T cells as a suppressor or an amplifier. The association between high responsiveness to PVP and an agouti coat color was suggested by a statistical analysis of the results in the backcrosses, but an association between the responsiveness and the sex of the mice was not found.     

Identification and genetic mapping of 151 dispersed members of 16 ribosomal protein multigene families in the mouse

More than 150 individual members of 16 ribosomal protein multigene families were identified as DNA restriction fragments and genetically mapped. The ribosomal protein gene-related sequences are widely dispersed throughout the mouse genome. Map positions were determined by analysis of 144 progeny mice from both an interspecific (C57BL/6J × SPRET/Ei)F₁ × SPRET/Ei and an intersubspecific (C57BL/6J × CAST/Ei)F₁ × C57BL/6J backcross. In addition, 30 members of the multigene families encoding PGK1 ODC, and TPI, including five new loci for ODC and one new locus for TPI, were characterized and mapped. Interspecific backcross linkage data for 29 nonecotropic murine leukemia retroviruses endogenous to C57BL/6J mice are also reported. Transmission ratio distortions and recombination frequencies are compared between the two backcrosses.     

Genetic control of mitogen-induced B-cell hyperproliferation in SM/J mice

Previous studies have shown that B cells from SM/J mice exhibit hyperproliferative responsiveness to several bacterial-derived B-cell mitogens. This hyperresponse trait was found to be under autosomal, polygenic control by non-H-2 genes. We have now estimated the number of genes involved by statistical analysis of the proliferative responses of splenocytes from SM/J and low-responder C57BL/6J strains, and progeny from the (B6 × SM)F₁, F₂ and (F₁ × B6) crosses. The number of loci involved was ascertained using two different statistical approaches. An estimate of two loci was determined using chi-squared statistics. The second approach, based on an additive model in the natural log scale, also pointed to a lower bound of two genes. We conclude that the hyperresponse to B-cell mitogens in SM/J mice is determined by two autosomal genes which are not linked to the H-2 major histocompatibility complex.Abbreviations used in this paper LPS a bacterial lipopolysaccharide - AVIS a mitogenic preparation from Actinomyces viscosus - B6 C57BL/6J mice - ¹²⁵IUdR ¹²⁵Iodo-deoxyuridine