Initiation of the Primary Immune Response to Sheep Red Blood Cells in the Dissociated Mouse Spleen Cell Culture

From a suspension of mouse spleen cells were separated two functionally different cell types on the basis of their ability or inability to adhere to plastic dishes during a short period of incubation. Morphological observations of cells of these two fractions were made with the aid of histochemical methods. The majority of cells in the adherent fraction possessed β-glucuronidase, which is one of the lysosomal enzymes rich in macrophages or phagocytic cells. In contrast, almost all cells in the non-adherent fraction were devoid of this enzyme activity and identified morphologically as small lymphocytes. The adherent and non-adherent cells were found to associate in cell clusters during the cultivation. In the cultures stimulated with sheep red blood cells, some of the non-adherent cells which were located peripherically in the cell clusters began to show alkaline phosphatase activity in their cytoplasm. This may perhaps indicate that antibody synthesis is going on in these alkaline phosphatase-positive cells, since in an in vivo study such cells were found to arise in the lymph nodes of immunized animals concomitantly with the appearance of specific serum antibody.     

Enrichment isolation of adipose-derived stem/stromal cells from the liquid portion of liposuction aspirates with the use of an adherent column

Background aimsAdipose-derived stem/progenitor cells (ASCs) are typically obtained from the lipoaspirates; however, a smaller number of ASCs can be isolated without enzymatic digestion from the infranatant liposuction aspirate fluid (LAF). We evaluated the effectiveness of an adherent column, currently used to isolate mesenchymal stromal cells from bone marrow, to isolate LAF cells.MethodsWe applied peripheral blood (PB), PB mixed with cultured ASCs (PB-ASC), and LAF solution to the column and divided it into two fractions, the adherent (positive) and the non-adherent (negative) fractions. We compared this method with hypotonic hemolysis (lysis) for the red blood cell count, nucleated cells count and cell compositions as well as functional properties of isolated mesenchymal cells.ResultsThe column effectively removed red blood cells, though the removal efficiency was slightly inferior to hemolysis. After column processing of PB-ASC, 60.5% of ASCs (53.2% by lysis) were selectively collected in the positive fraction, and the negative fraction contained almost no ASCs. After processing of LAF solution, nucleated cell yields were comparable between the column and hemolysis; however, subsequent adherent culture indicated that a higher average ASC yield was obtained from the column-positive samples than from the lysis samples, suggesting that the column method may be superior to hemolysis for obtaining viable ASCs. Mesenchymal differentiation and network formation assays showed no statistical differences in ASC functions between the lysis and column-positive samples.ConclusionsOur results suggest that a column with non-woven rayon and polyethylene fabrics is useful for isolating stromal vascular fraction cells from LAF solutions for clinical applications.     

Cell-mediate cytotoxicity in vitro of human lymphocytes against a tissue culture melanoma cell line (igr3).

Purified peripheral blood lymphocytes from 13 healthy donors, 6 melanoma patients and 1 halo nevus patient were tested for cytotoxic activity against an allogeneic melanoma cell line (IGR3) in, at least, one of the following assays: cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) and microcytotoxicity assays (ma). The lymphocytes were isolated by Ficoll-Triosil gradient centrifugation (fraction F) followed by removal of iron-phagocytosing and adherent cells (fraction FFF) and by subsequent passage through anti-IgG columns (fraction FFF-C). Leukocytes of each fraction were identified by different methods including morphology, rosette-formation, phagocytic activity, and membrane fluorescence. CMC activity paralled ADCC activity at a log lower level of sensitivity. In both assays lymphocytes of fractions F and FFF had the highest activity, whereas in fraction FFF-C cytotoxicity was strongly reduced. In all three lymphocyte fractions CMC and ADCC activity could be blocked by preincubation of the effector cells in aggregated IgG. Furthermore, depletion of E rosette-forming lymphocytes slightly increased ADCC and CMC activity, whereas depletion of EA and EAC rosette-forming lymphocytes strongly decreased it. Our results therefore indicate that in both CMC and ADCC assays, non-adherent, non-phagocytic Fc receptor-bearing lymphocytes ("K" cells) were the active cytotoxic cells. In MA, on the other hand, mononuclear phagocytes seemed to be the most active cell population. So far no significant difference was observed in CMC, ADCC, and MA between control persons and melanoma patients     

Ontogeny of B lymphocytes. I. In vitro appearance of Ig-bearing lymphocytes

During the immediate postnatal period, a striking increase in the fraction and number of splenic lymphocytes which bear easily detectable surface immunoglobulin (Ig) occurs in BALB/c and CDF₁ mice. Thus, in mice < 8 hr of age, approximately 4% of splenic lymphoid cells bear surface Ig whereas 17% of splenic lymphocytes of mice 24 hr of age are positive for surface Ig. This increase in Ig-bearing lymphocytes can be obtained in vitro. Thus, cultures of spleen or liver cells from neonatal mice display a substantial increase in the percent and in the absolute number of cells with easily detectable surface Ig. The in vitro increase in Ig-bearing cells is largely inhibited by mitomycin C or puromycin treatment of neonatal cells. Interestingly, pretreatment of these cells with anti-κ antibody, with or without complement, inhibited the increase in Ig-bearing cells. These results indicate that a substantial portion of Ig-bearing lymphoid cells present at 24 hr of age derive from cells already present in the spleens and livers of neonatal mice. Many of these “precursor” cells appear to bear some surface Ig.     

Separation of precursor T cells and Ig-secreting B cells from the large lymphocytic cells of human tonsil.

Large lymphocytic cells of human tonsils concentrating in the lighter fractions of a BSA gradient contained both precursors of E rosette-forming cells and lymphocytes carrying μ and γ determinants. These two subpopulations of cells could be separated by retaining the Ig-carrying cells on an anti-Fab column. Cells which did not bind to the column matured within 3–5 days into E rosette-forming cells. The Ig-carrying cells were eluted by medium supplemented with immunoglobulins and continued to secrete γ determinants in vitro. Both types of cells were also distinguished by different profiles of spontaneous [³H]thymidine incorporation, the persisting capacity for division of the E-rosette-maturing cells suggesting that they represent an earlier stage of lymphocyte maturation (precursor T cells).     

Non-specific immunosuppression by Cryptococcus neoformans infection

Cryptococcus neoformans-infected animals were found to be immunosuppressed when tested by a variety of assays for immune competence. Primary humoral immune responses and delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions to sheep erythrocytes were suppressed in animals which had been infected for two weeks. Lymphocyte proliferation (LP) assays to sRBC stroma were also significantly diminished at two weeks of infection. Spleen cells of infected mice suppressed the LP response of sRBC immunized, normal mice in vitro. At least a part of the suppression could be attributed to a nylon wool non-adherent cell. Suppressor cells continued to be present in spleen cell suspensions following treatment with anti-T cell serum or anti-immunoglobulin and complement. When infected spleen cells were separated by adherence to plastic, both the adherent and non-adherent fractions exhibited suppressive activity. Incubation of infected spleen cells in tissue culture for 48 hr resulted in the elaboration of soluble immunosuppreessive factors into the tissue culture medium. These data indicated that immune suppression in cryptococcosis can occur as a result of infection with Cryptococcus neoformans, and that at least one mechanism involved is the induction of adherent and non-adherent suppressor cells in the spleens of infected mice.     

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) receptors, complement receptors, and EBV infectibility of different lymphocyte fractions of human peripheral blood. II. Epstein-Barr virus studies.

In B-cell fractions isolated from human peripheral blood, the frequency of surface immunoglobulin-positive and of complement receptor-positive cells showed a good correlation with the frequency of EBV-binding cells, as detected by membrane fluorescence or by a quantitative bioassay for infectious virus in the absorbed supernatant fluid. There was a close relationship between all three parameters mentioned, the frequency of EBNA-positive cells 2 or 3 days after the infection, and the stimulation of cellular DNA synthesis. So-called O-cell fractions remaining after the removal of nylon adherent and E-rosetting cells contained a certain frequency of complement receptor-positive cells and absorbed EBV to a limited extent, but did not respond to EBV infection with EBNA induction or stimulation of DNA synthesis. None of the T-cell fractions absorbed EBV to a detectable extent. This includes the T_ea+ fraction that contained a certain proportion of complement receptor-positive cells. It is concluded that the previously demonstrated relationship between EBV receptors and complement receptors on B-lymphoblastoid lines also holds for peripheral B lymphocytes. In these cells, virus absorption is followed by an intracellular infectious process, signaled by the appearance of EBNA and cellular DNA synthesis. O cells carry complement receptors and absorb EBV to a certain extent, but do not respond with EBNA synthesis or DNA stimulation, presumably due to intracellular restrictions. T cells do not bind EBV, and the complement receptors present on some cells of the T_ea+ fraction do not function as EBV receptors.     

Trypanosoma gambiense: Enhancement of agglutinin and protection in subpopulations by immune spleen cells

On Day 5 after immunization with Trypanosoma gambiense, spleens were removed from immune mice. Spleen cell suspensions were passed through a glass bead column and separated into filtrate and adherent cell subpopulations. Each subpopulation was transferred into normal mice intraperitoneally, and the production of agglutinins and the protection against experimental infection with T. gambiense were studied in vivo. The adherent subpopulation contained cells which were capable of producing and releasing the agglutinin into the serum of the recipient, but the filtrate did not contain such cells.The adherent fraction was found to be effective in the prevention of experimental infection, but the filtrate was only slightly effective. When both cell subpopulations were mixed together, immune responses were enhanced. With cortisone and anti-mouse thymic cell serum treatment before immunization with trypanosomal antigen, agglutinin production was greatly suppressed, and the mice were not protected against experimental infection. However, after treatment of immune spleen cells in vitro with anti-mouse thymic cell serum, recipients of viable cells showed agglutinin production and were found to withstand infection.     

The partial purification of a Trichogramma pretiosum pupation factor from hemolymph of Manduca sexta

Factors responsible for pupation of Trichogramma pretiosum Riley reared in vitro were partially purified. The active material was extracted with 76% ethanol from Manduca sexta (L.) hemolymph. The water soluble active fraction was chromatographed first on a Sephadex G-10® column and then on a C₁₈ cartridge (reversed phase). After removing more than 99% of the original protein, 20% of the original pupation activity remained; this fraction, however, also contained about 20% of the original hemolymph carbohydrate. The pupation factor was further separated by DEAE-HPLC into two active carbohydrate containing fractions. HPLC of the active fraction from the C₁₈ cartridge on an amino column produced some separation of the original carbohydrate, but no pupation activity was found in single fractions after this separation. However, when certain fractions were re-combined, weak pupation activity was obtained. The results indicate that when T. pretiosum were fed nutritionally rich artificial diets, at least two and possibly several polar, low molecular weight chemicals in M. sexta hemolymph were also needed and were responsible for growth and development of the parasitoids to the pupal stage. This is the first report describing the partial purification of insect growth factors affecting the growth and development of parasitoids.     

Boronate affinity chromatography of cells and biomacromolecules using cryogel matrices

Boronate affinity chromatography involves the interaction between cis-diol containing molecules and the hydroxyl group of boronate. Boronate affinity based cryogel chromatography matrices have been developed and the ligands were immobilized by two methods i.e., grafting of the boronate ligand on to the matrix and by copolymerization of monomer containing boronate with other co-monomer. The boronate grafted cryogel column was used to capture adherent and non-adherent cells and the captured cells were recovered at different fructose concentrations as an eluting agent, in chromatography mode. It was found that the adherent cells could be recovered at relatively higher fructose concentration (0.5 M) than non-adherent cells which could be recovered by using low fructose concentration (0.1 M). This might be due to the difference in the content of glycoprotein in adherent and non-adherent cells. In this way a new separation method can be devised for the fractionation of adherent and non-adherent cells. In another study, a copolymerized boronate cryogel column was developed for the separation of RNA from the bacterial crude extract without any pre-processing. RNA molecules were specifically retained in the cryogel column due to interaction between 2,3′ diol group of ribose sugar in RNA and the hydroxyl group of boronate. The DNA molecules were passed through the column uninteracted due to absence of 2′-hydroxyl group. Later, bound RNA molecules were recovered from the boronate affinity cryogel column.     

Selective depletion and enrichment of alloreactive cytolytic effector lymphocytes using anti-fluorescein affinity columns

Peritoneal exudates from BALB/c mice rejecting C57BL ascites lymphoma EL4 are a rich source of cytolytic effector lymphocytes (CL); however, these preparations are still contaminated even after removal of adherent cells with other mononuclear cells which do not appear to be cytolytic. The relationship of the cytolytic and “non-cytolytic” cells to graft rejection in vivo is not completely understood. We have used anti-fluorescein (α-FL) columns to separate sensitized lymphoid populations into fractions enriched or depleted in cytolytic activity. EL4 were directly labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FL-EL4), centrifuged with CL and the mixture was applied to a column of horse α-FL antibody conjugated to Sepharose 4B. FL-EL4 and lymphocytes bound to them were retained on the column, while non-bound lymphocytes were collected in a medium wash (passed cells). CL bound to FL-EL4 were then eluted with EDTA (eluted cells). Cytolytic activity of the two fractions was compared to that of the unfractionated population in an in vitro⁵¹Cr release assay. Passed cells were consistently depleted in cytolytic activity compared to unfractionated cells or manipulation controls reaching 100% depletion in some experiments. Enrichment of cytolytic activity in eluted populations was frequently but not invariably observed. Rate of cytolysis was used as a measure of cytolytic activity in fractionated populations. Specificity of binding was investigated in reciprocal experiments using CS7BL/6J effectors raised against BALB/c lymphoma RL♂ 1. Viability of recovered cells was high and the procedure was rapid, efficient and versatile. In contrast to monolayer cellular immunoabsorbents, contamination of fractions with absorbing cells was consistently less than 5%. Both enriched and depleted populations are available for further study of surface markers and function.     

半滑舌鳎外周血T淋巴细胞的分离、鉴定及TCRβ基因免疫应答分析

为开展半滑舌鳎(Cynoglossus semilaevis)免疫学研究提供细胞平台, 利用密度梯度离心法分离半滑舌鳎外周血淋巴细胞, 采用短期细胞培养法分离悬浮淋巴细胞, 悬浮淋巴细胞在含有0.3 μg/mL的PHA的DMEM完全培养基, 于24℃条件下可连续培养3—4d左右, 采用自制的尼龙毛柱可将悬浮淋巴细胞中的非黏附淋巴细胞和黏附淋巴细胞成功分离; 利用流式细胞仪结合特异抗体检测对非黏附淋巴细胞和黏附淋巴细胞进行鉴定, 结果表明, 非黏附细胞与鼠抗人FTIC-CD3单克隆抗体特异结合, 为T样淋巴细胞; 黏附细胞和鼠抗人FTIC-CD19单抗特异结合, 为B样淋巴细胞。T细胞表面抗原受体TCRβ基因可特异性的在非黏膜细胞中表达, 而在黏附细胞中不表达, 证明分离获得的非黏膜细胞为T淋巴细胞, 采用qRT-PCR (Quantitative Real-Time PCR)方法检测TCRβ基因表达, 结果表明, TCRβ基因在半滑舌鳎肝、脾、头肾、后肾、小肠、胃、血液、鳃、皮肤、肌肉、心脏、脑、卵巢组织中均有表达, 其中在肠、胃、脾、头肾中表达量较高; 鳗弧菌感染后TCRβ基因在肝、脾、鳃中呈现明显的上调表达, 且表达峰值出现在感染后72—96h, 表明TCRβ基因在获得性免疫应答中起重要作用。     

Purification and hydrophobic properties of the δ-endotoxin in the parasporal crystal produced by Bacillus thuringiensis var. entomocidus

Parasporal crystals of Bacillus thuringiensis var. entomocidus were separated from spores and other cell debris by the water-chloroform biphase procedure. The solubilization and fractionation were carried out under mild conditions at 4°C. Crystals were solubilized in 0.01 M dithiothreitol and 0.2 M glycine NaOH buffer at pH 10.0. The solution was treated overnight with 0.01 M Tris-HCl buffer, pH 5.5, containing 0.1% Triton N-101 and 0.1% sodium cholate, and then placed on a Sepharose 6B column, equilibrated, and later developed with the same buffer. Under these conditions, four fractions were obtained, one of which had a molecular weight ranging from 60,000 to 70,000, and demonstrated a high insecticidal activity on second instar larvae of Spodoptera litioralis. The LC₅₀ value of this fraction was a half of that of the solubilized crystals. The other three fractions had a lower activity. The active fraction was further fractionated on an octyl-Sepharose 4B resin. Elution of this column with the same buffer separated the proteins into two fractions. The first eluted fraction was highly active, while the second demonstrated a very low activity. The active fraction was further purified by loading on a short column of octyl-Sepharose 4B and eluted with a linear gradient of the same detergents. Under these conditions, the highly active fraction gave a sharp and symmetrical peak that revealed five close bands at the pH range of 6.1–6.5 on isoelectric focusing gel electrophoresis.     

Separation of human lymphocyte subpopulations by density gradient electrophoresis. I. Different mobilities of T (T mu, T alpha) and B lymphocytes from human tonsils

T and B lymphocytes from human tonsils were separated by density gradient electrophoresis on the basis of their surface charge. The high-mobility cell fractions were found to be highly enriched in T lymphocytes with only very small proportions of B cells. In contrast, the low-mobility fractions were predominantly B lymphocytes, and had only 10 to 30% contamination of T cells. The intermediate-mobility fractions contained both T and B lymphocytes in approximately equal proportions. IgM-bearing lymphocytes, as well as cells with receptors for mouse erythrocytes, the Fc portion of IgG, and complement were found in the intermediate- and low-mobility fractions. T lymphocytes, prepared by E rosetting, were also electrophoresed by this method and found to be of higher mobility as compared with peripheral blood T lymphocytes. T cells with Fc receptors for IgM (Tμ) or IgA (Tα) were found to be considerably heterodisperse with regard to surface charge and were present in all fractions. The separated cell fractions were treated in vitro with various concentrations of concanavalin A and thereafter examined for Tμ, Tγ, and Tα phenotypes. Low concentrations of Con A (2.5 μg/ml) had no effect on cell surface phenotypes. However, higher concentrations of Con A (20μg/ml) significantly reduced the numbers of T cells having IgM receptors (Tμ), but failed to alter the expression of the Tγ phenotype. The latter finding contrasts to that observed with T cells from the peripheral blood where high concentrations of Con A increase the proportions of the Tγ cells. This study demonstrates that density gradient electrophoresis can be used for the separation and study of lymphocyte subpopulations from human tonsils.     

Purified Dendritic Cell-Tumor Fusion Hybrids Supplemented with Non-Adherent Dendritic Cells Fraction Are Superior Activators of Antitumor Immunity

Background

Strong evidence supports the DC-tumor fusion hybrid vaccination strategy, but the best fusion product components to use remains controversial. Fusion products contain DC-tumor fusion hybrids, unfused DCs and unfused tumor cells. Various fractions have been used in previous studies, including purified hybrids, the adherent cell fraction or the whole fusion mixture. The extent to which the hybrids themselves or other components are responsible for antitumor immunity or which components should be used to maximize the antitumor immunity remains unknown.

Methods

Patient-derived breast tumor cells and DCs were electro-fused and purified. The antitumor immune responses induced by the purified hybrids and the other components were compared.

Results

Except for DC-tumor hybrids, the non-adherent cell fraction containing mainly unfused DCs also contributed a lot in antitumor immunity. Purified hybrids supplemented with the non-adherent cell population elicited the most powerful antitumor immune response. After irradiation and electro-fusion, tumor cells underwent necrosis, and the unfused DCs phagocytosed the necrotic tumor cells or tumor debris, which resulted in significant DC maturation. This may be the immunogenicity mechanism of the non-adherent unfused DCs fraction.

Conclusions

The non-adherent cell fraction (containing mainly unfused DCs) from total DC/tumor fusion products had enhanced immunogenicity that resulted from apoptotic/necrotic tumor cell phagocytosis and increased DC maturation. Purified fusion hybrids supplemented with the non-adherent cell population enhanced the antitumor immune responses, avoiding unnecessary use of the tumor cell fraction, which has many drawbacks. Purified hybrids supplemented with the non-adherent cell fraction may represent a better approach to the DC-tumor fusion hybrid vaccination strategy.     

Heterogeneity of human natural killer cell populations.

Natural killing (NK) in human donors was determined by the ability of peripheral blood subpopulations to lyse the myeloid target, K562, in a 2 to 4 hr ⁵¹Cr release assay. The most active cell was a non-T cell which passed through nylon columns (representing 10 to 25% of column passed cells). A second column passed cell population, with characteristics of T lymphocytes (75 to 90% of column passed cells), was also capable of mediating natural killing. Non-T cells which were retained by the nylon columns (45 to 55% of adherent cells) lacked NK activity. However, nylon adherent T cells (45 to 55% of adherent cells) were consistently active in NK assays, illustrating an important subset of NK effector cell often overlooked. Both column passed and adherent T cells were further separated according to their ability to bind IgG or IgM immune complexes, showing that those mediating NK have receptors for IgG (Tγ+) but not for IgM (Tμ+).     

Autocrine factors in defense of cytotoxic CTLL-2 cells from oxidative stress

The role of pyruvate and autocrine polypeptide factors (APF) secreted by cytotoxic IL-2-dependent CTLL-2 cells in cell defense from oxidative stress was investigated. The addition of a conditioned medium (CM) containing pyruvate and APF into CTLL-2 cell cultures significantly increased the cell survival under oxidative stress conditions induced by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). The kinetics of (H₂O₂) removal from cell cultures with added CM has been registered. It has been shown that, at the beginning of oxidative stress (less than 15 min), H₂O₂ was mostly removed by means of its reaction with pyruvate contained in CM. Pyruvate content in CM was estimated as 138 ± 7 μM. Gel filtration on a column with Bio-Gel P-10 was used to eliminate pyruvate from CM. Gel filtration resulted in three CM fractions (A, B, and C) corresponding to three chromatogram peaks. Pyruvate was not detected in any fraction. The fraction A was the first to be eluted from the column and contained the largest molecules. In the cell survival test, fraction B had the highest protective ability for CTLL-2 cells under oxidative stress. Fraction A supported cell survival to a lesser degree and fraction C did not show any protective abilities. Fraction B added to cells under oxidative stress kept intracellular ATP content at a significantly higher level then in control cells. Moreover, it was found that APF from fraction B was able to react with H₂O₂ directly and inactivate it in the absence of cells. APF from fraction A did not have such properties.     

Simultaneous purification of a cytochrome P-450 and cytochrome b5 from the house fly,Musca domestica L.

Cytochrome P-450, cytochrome b₅ and cytochrome P-450 reductase were purified from house fly abdomens using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Using a new technique, cytochrome P-450 was separated from the bulk of other proteins after polyethylene glycol fractionation and hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC) using a phenyl-5PW column. This technique resulted in 91% recovery of the cytochrome P-450s in a single concentrated fraction that also contained the remaining cytochrome b₅ and cytochrome P-450 reductase activity. Further purification by anion exchange on a DEAE-5SW column resolved the cytochrome P-450s, cytochrome b₅ and cytochrome P-450 reductase into individual fractions. The ion exchange step yielded one fraction that contained a high specific content of P-450 (14.4 nmol/mg protein). This cytochrome P-450 fraction ran as a single band at 54.3 kDa in sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide (SDS-PAGE) gel electrophoresis and had a carboxy ferrocytochrome absorbance maximum at 447 nm.Further purification of the anion exchange cytochrome b₅ fraction, by C8 reverse phase HPLC, resulted in a cytochrome b₅ fraction with a specific content of 51.8 nmol/mg protein and an apparent molecular mass of 19.7 kDa by SDS-PAGE. The anion exchange HPLC fraction containing the cytochrome P-450 reductase activity was further purified by NADP-agarose affinity chromatography. This step yielded cytochrome P-450 reductase with an apparent molecular mass of 72 kDa.     

Heterogeneity of B cell clones: immunoglobulin-secreting subsets

Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I bacteria (SpA CoI) is known to be a polyclonal B-cell activator of human lymphocytes. In this study, we investigated which of the B-cell subsets SpA CoI could stimulate and induce immunoglobulin (Ig) production. B-Cell subsets were separated from peripheral blood and tonsil lymphocytes by rosette formation with E, EA_IgG, EAC, anti-Ig-conjugated ox erythrocytes (OE-anti-Ig), and protein A-conjugated OE (OE-Pro A), or on a bovine serum albumin (BSA) discontinuous density gradient. The cells responding to SpA CoI included E^?, C3 receptor-positive (C3R⁺), Fc receptor-negative (FcR^?), and surface Ig-positive (SIg⁺) B-cell subsets. These B-cell populations responded well to SpA CoI and produced significant amounts of IgG, IgM, and a lesser amount of IgA. Among SIg⁺ B cells, IgG, IgA, and IgM⁺ B-cell subsets responded to SpA CoI and produced large amounts of Ig belonging to each corresponding Ig class. IgD⁺ B cells failed to produce Ig of any class, except for minimal amounts of IgG and IgM. While both the protein A receptor-positive (Pro A · R⁺) and negative (Pro A · R^?) cells responded well to SpA CoI, Pro A · R⁺ B cells produced IgG mainly and Pro A · R^? B cells produced IgM. Fractionation of B cells on a BSA gradient revealed that comparatively small-sized and denser B-cell subsets responded well to SpA CoI and produced every class of Ig.