Anti-immunoglobulin autoantibodies are not preferentially induced in polyclonal activation of human and mouse lymphocytes, and more anti-DNA and anti-erythrocyte autoantibodies are induced in polyclonal activation of mouse than human lymphocytes

Using a plaque assay with immunoglobulin (Ig)-coated SRBC, we and others have previously reported that the majority of polyclonally activated mouse lymphocytes secreted antibodies that appeared to be IgM anti-IgG autoantibodies. Careful reexamination of this assay, with application of several highly purified mouse serum and myeloma IgG and IgM preparations, revealed that IgM, which was a minor contaminant of Ig preparations, rather than IgG, was responsible for the formation of these plaques. High numbers of plaques could also be detected in assays with polyclonally activated human lymphocytes, Ig-coated SRBC, and anti-Ig developing sera. Of all IgG-, IgM- or IgA-secreting cells, 40 to 100% were detected with SRBC coated with gamma-globulin or Ig of the same isotype as the isotype to which the developing serum was specific; in general, low proportions of all PFC were detected with SRBC coated with Ig of a different isotype. Studies on the sequence of events leading to the formation of plaques with Ig-sensitized SRBC (both in humans and mice) revealed that antibodies detected in these assays were not able to bind to the Ig-coated SRBC (without the presence of developing serum), and therefore were not anti-Ig autoantibodies. It is our conclusion that the plaque assays with Ig-coated SRBC represent another type of a reverse hemolytic PFC assay that detects cells secreting antibodies regardless of their specificity, and these plaques are formed due to the cross-linking by the anti-Ig developing serum of the Ig coated on SRBC and the Ig secreted by lymphocytes. Our results confirmed preferential induction of anti-DNA antibody secreting cells in mice by showing that these antibodies indeed bind to DNA coated on SRBC. In cultures of polyclonally activated human lymphocytes, anti-DNA and anti-erythrocyte autoantibody-secreting cells were over 10 to 100 times less frequent than in mice. These results, therefore, disprove the concept of preferential induction of anti-Ig autoantibodies in the polyclonal activation of mouse and human lymphocytes, and show that anti-DNA and anti-erythrocyte autoantibodies are easily induced in the polyclonal activation of mouse, but not human, lymphocytes.     

Requirement for macrophages in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated mixed thymocyte cultures.

Cortisone-resistant thymocytes are stimulated by allogeneic thymocytes in the presence of lipopolysaccharide or small numbers of syngeneic, allogeneic or third party macrophages, as measured by ³H-thymidine uptake and by the generation of specifically cytotoxic effector cells. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) has no stimulating effects on macrophage-depleted mixed thymocyte cultures. It also has no stimulating effect on syngeneic thymocytes in the absence of allogeneic thymocytes.Macrophages and lipopolysaccharide are only required in the induction phase of mixed thymocyte reactions. The possible role of both lipopolysaccharide and macrophages in lymphoproliferative reactions involving pure thymocyte populations is discussed.     

Studies of the immunological capacity of germ-free mouse radiation chimeras. II. Thymus cell function in a humoral immune response to sheep erythrocytes

Experiments described here were undertaken to determine the reason for the depressed humoral immune response in germ-free mouse allogeneic radiation chimeras. Indirect immunofluorescence using the theta (θ) antigen as a marker demonstrated that about 10% of the nucleated cells in the spleen of both allogeneic and syngeneic chimeras bear the θ antigen. One type of in vivo cell transfer assay employed to determine the capacity for “helper” function of thymocytes revealed that allogeneic chimera thymocytes were only 7–18% as efficient in “helper” function as normal thymocytes. A second type of in vivo cell transfer assay demonstrated that the presence of intact normal thymic stroma had no effect on the “helper” inefficiency of thymocytes obtained from allogeneic radiation chimeras.     

Immunologic mechanisms in the pathogenesis of virus-induced leukemia. IV. Mechanism of target cell recognition by autoreactive thymocytes

Neonatal infection of mice with Moloney murine leukemia virus (MuLV-M) results in the establishment of a chronic virus-carrier state. Such MuLV-carrier mice exhibit several immunologic abnormalities including generalized immunosuppression and autoimmunity. Previously, we found thymocytes from MuLV-M-carrier mice to be cytotoxic for normal syngeneic and allogeneic fibroblasts but not for xenogeneic (hamster) target cells. However, when the same syngeneic or allogeneic target cells were infected with MuLV-M, they were "spared" from the autoreactivity, leading us to speculate that the MuLV receptor on the target cell membrane was involved in the autoreactivity. To address this question, we tested MuLV-carrier thymocytes for their ability to lyse hamster/mouse-hybrid target cells; some of which possessed chromosome 5 (which codes for the ecotropic MuLV receptor). Of the nine hybrid cell lines initially tested, only the five clones that carried chromosome 5 were killed by the autoreactive thymocytes. In additional experiments, we noted that the cytotoxic reaction was inhibited in the presence of a monoclonal antibody that reacts with an MuLV-M gp70 epitope. The results suggest that the autoreactive cytotoxicity is mediated, at least in part, through the formation of a "bridge" between MuLV budding from the membrane of the thymocytes and the ecotropic MuLV receptor on the target cells.     

Thymocyte and macrophage interactions: separation of murine thymocyte subsets and enrichment of syngeneic cell-responding thymocytes by adsorption to macrophage monolayers

The spontaneous binding of murine thymocytes to macrophage monolayers was employed to separate thymocytes into macrophage-unbound and -bound subsets, and the functional reactivities of these two subpopulations were examined. Macrophage-unbound thymocytes were found to be enriched in functional subsets reactive to semi-allogeneic and allogeneic stimulating spleen cells by proliferation in mixed leukocyte culture (MLC). Furthermore, macrophage-unbound thymocytes were frequently found to respond to syngeneic spleen cells. This syngeneic proliferative response showed both memory and specificity upon subsequent restimulation and thus seems to represent a syngeneic mixed leukocyte reaction (SMLR). Syngeneic responding thymocytes were also found to produce interleukin 2 when cultured with syngeneic but not allogeneic stimulator cells. In contrast, macrophage-bound thymocytes showed greatly reduced proliferative responses to allogeneic stimulators and no responses to syngeneic stimulators. The macrophage-bound thymocyte subset was not enriched in detectable suppressive activity; proliferative responses of macrophage-unbound thymocytes to either allogeneic or syngeneic cells were neither suppressed nor enhanced when macrophage-unbound thymocytes were added to the cultures. Thus, the macrophage-unbound subset seems to be enriched in functionally mature thymocytes and the macrophage-bound subset appears to be enriched in functionally immature thymocytes. This functional separation of thymocytes by macrophage adherence also correlated well with thymocyte subpopulations separated by bovine serum albumin density gradients; the low density mature thymocytes showed enhanced responses to both allogeneic and syngeneic stimulators, whereas the high density immature cells were unresponsive. This correlation was supported further by binding studies in which T cell tumor lines derived from C57BL/6 mice were used. ERLD tumor cells, which are similar to cortical immature thymocytes in both enzymatic and surface antigenic markers, were found to bind readily to macrophages, whereas both EL-4 and E male G2 tumor cells, with characteristics of mature thymocytes, bound to macrophages poorly. The binding of thymocytes and ERLD tumor cells to macrophages was not genetically restricted. We speculate that thymocyte binding to macrophages may play a critical role during the functional maturation of thymocytes.     

The properties of plaque-forming cells from autoimmune and normal strains of mice with specificity for autologous erythrocyte antigens.

Treatment of mouse erythrocytes with the proteolytic enzymes, bromelain, reveals antigenic determinants not normally exposed on the erythrocyte surface. It was found that not only NZB mice, a known autoimmune strain, but also several normal strains of mice contain cells in small numbers in their spleens and in larger numbers in their peritoneal cavities which will form plaques against bromelain-treated MRBC. During in vitro culture the number of anti-BR-MRBC PFC increases slightly in the spleen cell populations whereas the number of these PFC in peritoneal cells increases dramatically to as many as 100,000 PFC/10(6) cells. The plaques detected in this assay contain a central lymphoid cell and their development, which requires the presence of complement and protein synthesis, is inhibited by anti-mouse immunoglobulin.     

Inhibition of erythroid cell growth by allogeneic murine lymphocytes. Evidence for a synergism between lymph node cells and thymocytes

Murine lymphoid cells from thymus and lymph nodes were tested for synergistic response in a graft-vs-host test. The test is based on the principle that allogeneic lymphocytes inhibit erythroid cell proliferation in the spleens of irradiated mice infused with syngeneic bone marrow cells.I was observed that mixtures of thymocytes and lymph node cells from the same parental strain yielded graft-vs-host responses in irradiated F₁-hybrids higher than expected by summing the responses of the two cell populations tested separately. A similar synergistic response was obtained using mixtures of thymocytes and lymph node cells obtained from the two parental strains of the hybrid, whereas such an effect was not detected using mixtures of lymph node cells or mixtures of thymocytes from the two parental strains. Nor could synergy be demonstrated between parental strain lymph node cells and thymocytes syngeneic with the bone marrow target cells. Thymocytes obtained from one parental strain which were injected into its irradiated F₁-hybrid transformed into a population of sensitized cells in the spleens of the recipients. This transformation was suppressed by the simultaneous injection of lymph node cells from the second parental strain. Since there is a synergistic immune response by such cell mixtures it is concluded that thymocytes may enhance the graft-vs-host response of lymph node cells. Parental strain thymocytes and lymph node cells, the latter being specifically immunologically tolerant to the bone marrow target cells, failed to give a synergistic response indicating that thymocytes do not transform unresponsive lymphocytes into responsive, but rather enhance the reactivity of existing, specifically responsive cells.The results thus show that thymocytes may enhance the response of lymph node cells in this specific graft-vs-host assay.     

Natural thymocytolytic autoantibodies in NZB and other strains of mice

Spontaneously occurring autoantibodies to thymus cells were detected in NZB and other strains of mice by means of cytolysis in agar gel. Serum antibodies were detected by a spot test in which circular zones of lysed thymus cells were observed after the diffusion of serum and complement. In addition, cells forming antithymocyte antibodies were detected in the spleens of tested animals by means of a plaque assay in which antibody-forming cells could be enumerated as plaque-forming cells. The thymocytolytic antibodies were of the IgM class, they resisted heating at 56 °C for 30 min and showed optimal binding activity at 4 °C, even though they were active in temperatures up to 37 °C. They could be detected in a small proportion of mice 1–2 months old, but they had a higher incidence in mice older than 8 months.Studies performed with thymocytes originating from various murine strains indicated that the antibodies under study combined with an antigen which was present on thymocytes of all murine strains tested, including syngeneic and autologous thymocytes. Absorptions demonstrated the presence of the antigen on murine thymus, spleen, and brain cells. Absorptions with L5178Y lymphoma cells suggested that there might be two different antigens involved in the reactions with these thymocytolytic antibodies. Properties of the thymocytolytic antibodies suggested that they are identical with natural thymocytotoxic autoantibodies described by Shirai et al.The possible pathogenic role of these antibodies in autoimmune disorders of NZB mice, particularly in the Coombs'-positive hemolytic anemia, was investigated and discussed.     

Defective T helper activity in the spleen of BALB/c mice immune to a syngeneic fibrosarcoma

Summary BALB/c mice were immunized with the syngeneic 3-methylcholanthrene-induced fibrosarcoma CA-2 by the growth and excision method. When lymphoid cells from different organs of these tumor-free mice were tested in a direct ⁵¹Cr-release assay, peritoneal exudate cells but not spleen cells displayed specific cytotoxicity against the syngeneic tumor target. A cytotoxic response could be obtained by tumor-immune spleen cells when cultured in a mixed lymphocyte tumor cell culture (MLTC) at high but not low density although at the same effector/stimulator ratio. Lack of cytotoxic activity in low density MLTC was not due to an impairment of cytotoxic precursors since cytotoxicity was rescued by adding exogenous interleukin-2 in experimental conditions in which no lymphokine-activated killer cells could develop relevant anti-CA-2 lysis. When low density MLTC were supplemented with either 800 R-irradiated cells or nonirradiated, negatively selected Lyt 1⁺ cells from the same immune mice, induction of a cytotoxic response against CA-2 occurred and interleukin-2 production became detectable. Additional studies indicated that spleen cells of CA-2-immune mice were also impaired in their ability to provide help to syngeneic thymocytes for the generation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes against C57BL/6J alloantigens. Dilution effect of helper cells due to immunization procedures was excluded since spleen cells of mice immunized against another BALB/c tumor, the YC8 lymphoma, or against DBA/2 minor histocompatibility antigens provided good help to thymocytes against the same alloantigens. These results indicate that tumor-immune animals may also have selective T helper defects in an important lymphoid organ like spleen.     

Immune dysfunction associated with graft-vs-host reaction in mice transplanted across minor histocompatibility barriers. II. Reversible defect in T-dependent antibody responses

B cell and Th cell functions were assessed in mice undergoing a graft-vs-host reaction (GvHR) in response to minor histocompatibility Ag by using the plaque-forming cell (PFC) response to the T-independent Ag TNP-Brucella abortus and the T-dependent Ag TNP-SRBC. Bone marrow plus spleen cells from B10.D2 mice were transplanted into lethally irradiated B10.D2 (syngeneic recipient) or H-2d-compatible BALB/c (allogeneic recipient) to produce a chronic form of GvHR. BALB/c recipients of an allogeneic transplant demonstrated a marked and proportional lymphoid depletion of the spleen with normal percentages of B cells, T cells, and CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subsets. Mice with GvHR made normal numbers of PFC/10(5) spleen cells in response to the T-independent Ag, but a significantly depressed number of PFC/10(5) spleen cells to the T-dependent Ag compared with normal B10.D2 mice and with irradiated B10.D2 recipients of syngeneic B10.D2 marrow plus spleen cells. Mice undergoing the minor Ag GvHR made significantly larger numbers of PFC/10(5) spleen cells after secondary immunization with TNP-SRBC compared with controls. In vitro assays demonstrated that B cells from mice with GvHR responded to T help from normal B10.D2 mice and that T cells from mice with GvHR provided help to normal B cells after in vivo immunization. These data demonstrate that radiation chimeras with GvHR in response to minor histocompatibility Ag have relatively normal B cell function and an apparent defect in T helper cell function that is reversible by immunization with appropriate Ag.     

Significant frequency of cytotoxic T lymphocyte precursor cells specific for TNP-modified allogeneic cells in normal lymphocytes

It was tested whether the cytotoxic T-lymphocyte precursor (CLP) repertoire in normal mice is biased toward recognizing foreign antigen in association with self H-2 as opposed to allogeneic H-2. The frequencies of CLPs in normal mice (H-2b,k,d) specific for TNP-modified syngeneic and TNP-modified allogeneic cells have been compared by limiting dilution analysis. Normal spleen cells were cultured at a limiting dilution with TNP-modified (TNP-self) or TNP-modified allogeneic (TNP-allo) stimulator cells. Cultures were split into four aliquots and assayed against TNP-self, TNP-allo, unmodified syngeneic, and unmodified allogeneic Concanavalin A blast targets and classified for cytotoxic activity directed against TNP-self, TNP-allo, and allo H-2 determinants. In disagreement with our expectations from the literature, the frequencies of CLPs in H-2b and H-2d responder cells recognizing TNP-modified H-2k were higher than the frequencies of CLPs recognizing TNP-self. There was no clear preference for TNP-self in the case of H-2b responder and H-2d allogeneic cells, nor vice versa. Only in the case of H-2k responder cells was there a distinct preference for TNP-self. The significance of a considerable number of TNP-specific, allo H-2-restricted CLPs in normal lymphocytes is discussed.     

Characterization of the primary IgM response to GAT and GT: conditions required for the detection of IgM antibodies.

Primary IgM antibody responses to synthetic linear copolymers of L-glutamic acid, L-tyrosine, and L-alanine were investigated. The appearance of primary IgM anti-GAT antibodies was detected in BALB/c mice by using a solid phase radioimmunoassay (SPRIA) procedure. The finding was verified for GAT in responder mice and GAT-MBSA and GT-MBSA in nonresponder mice in an indirect plaque forming cell (PFC) assay by using a rabbit antiserum directed against the mulambda myeloma protein, MOPC 104E. Facilitated IgM PFC could be inhibited by a purified muK myeloma protein, TEPC 183. Maximal facilitated IgM plaque response was found to precede the IgG response by several days. A direct plaque assay was developed for the detection of IgM anti-GAT plaques using poly-L-lysine (PLL) to couple GAT to sheep erythrocytes (SRBC). GAT-SRBC coupled by the PLL method optimally couple 4 to 5 times less antigen to the indicator cell surface than does the CrCl3-coupling method routinely employed in our laboratory. These findings were extended to a conventional antigen, chicken gamma globulin (CgammaG). We found that a less dense epitope coat on the indicator cell surface favors detection of direct IgM PFC, whereas a more densely coated indicator cell favors the detection of facilitated IgM and IgG PFC responses.     

Suppressor T cells induced by soluble immune complexes can adoptively transfer inhibition of cytophilic antibody receptors on macrophages.

Immune complexes (soluble antigens of L1210 and antibody to L1210) when given to allogeneic C3H mice generated suppressor cells that inhibited receptors for cytophilic antibody on macrophages. Thymocytes or nylon-nonadherent splenic T cells (4 × 10⁷) from immune-complex-treated mice transferred this suppressive activity when injected into normal syngeneic mice. Maximal suppression of macrophages occurred 4 to 6 days after transfer. In contrast, even 5 × 10⁷ nylon-adherent, non-T spleen cells from immune-complex-treated (“suppressed”) mice failed to induce macrophage suppression in the syngeneic recipients. When T-cell-depleted “B” mice were used as recipients, neither thymocytes nor splenic T cells from suppressed mice were able to transfer suppressive activity. However, the admixture of 2 × 10⁷ normal syngeneic thymocytes with 4 × 10⁷ thymocytes from suppressed mice restored the latter's ability to elicit suppression of macrophages in T-cell-deprived recipients. Peritoneal monocytes from recipients of suppressor thymocytes (to L1210) could not attach cytophilic antibody to L1210 but could attach cytophilic antibody to EL-4 and sheep erythrocytes. Thus, suppressor T cells induced by immune complexes can transfer immunologically specific macrophage suppression (inhibition of cytophilic antibody receptors) to syngeneic recipients. The suppressor cells required the cooperation of normal T cells, suggesting either recruitment of suppressor cells from, or a helper effect by, the normal T cells, in order to produce their effect.     

Composition of the immune system of allophenic mice.

Mice were immunized with antigen (Rabbit Fab' fragments) attached to syngeneic, or f₁ (semi-syngeneic) irradiated spleen cells. Specific anti-rabbit Fab' plaque forming cell numbers showed that the response towards antigen on syngeneic or F₁ cells, was significantly lower than that towards the same antigen on allogeneic cells. By subsequent in vitro incubation of immune spleen cells with antigen followed by plaque assay, it was found that those spleen cells exhibiting lowered plaque forming cell numbers initially, (i.e., those mice immunized with antigen on syngeneic or F₁ cell surfaces) showed, after incubation, a response equal to or greater than those cells which initially (before in vitro incubation) demonstrated a larger response (i.e. those mice immunized with antigen on allogeneic cells).     

LY-2+ effectors cytotoxic for syngeneic tumor cells: generation by allogeneic stimulation and by supernatants from mixed leukocyte cultures

The present study was aimed at gaining insight into means by which stimulation of mouse spleen cells with allogeneic normal cells in mixed leukocyte cultures (MLC) can result in the generation of effector cells cytotoxic for syngeneic tumor or transformed cells. Stimulation of lymphocytes from BALB/c or C3H mice for 5 days with cells from mice of every allogeneic strain tested, in medium containing mouse serum and lacking xenogeneic serum, resulted in the activation of effectors cytotoxic for syngeneic cells transformed spontaneously or by SV40, polyoma or adenovirus. In each experiment, all of the syngeneic transformed cell lines, as well as clones derived from these lines, were lysed to the highest degree by effectors obtained from the same culture, and therefore stimulated with cells from the same allogeneic strain. Although the particular allogeneic sensitizing strain that induced the highest cytolytic activity varied between experiments, effectors obtained from the culture with the highest cell recovery always exhibited the greatest cytotoxicity against all the syngeneic transformed cells and clones. Lysis was mediated predominantly by Ly-2+ effectors; total lytic units of cytotoxicity recovered after treatment with monoclonal anti-Ly-2 antibody and complement (C) were reduced by 85 to 90% compared to cells treated with C alone. Lysis of syngeneic tumor cells by the allosensitized effectors in cytotoxicity assays was not inhibited by the addition of unlabeled "blocking" lymphocytes from the allogeneic strain used for sensitization. In addition, it was found that lymphocytes cultured without stimulating cells for 5 days in medium supplemented with supernatants from secondary MLC that are known to contain high levels of lymphokines, mediated high levels of cytotoxicity on all the transformed cells tested, but lacked detectable cytotoxic activity for syngeneic or allogeneic Con A blasts. The MLC supernatant-activated effectors that lyse the transformed cells are phenotypically CTL, because treatment with anti-Ly-2 and C reduced lytic activity by approximately 75%. Taken together, these findings suggest that the generation in MLC of Ly-2+ effector cells cytotoxic for syngeneic transformed cell lines might not be due, in some cases, to lymphocyte responses to particular alloantigens on the stimulating cells that are cross-reactive with "alien" histocompatibility antigens on transformed cells, but rather is due to effector cell activation by lymphokines produced during allogeneic stimulation.     

Specific inhibition of cytotoxic memory cells produced against UV-induced tumors in UV-irradiated mice.

Cytotoxic responses of UV-irradiated mice against syngeneic UV-induced tumors were measured by using a 51Cr-release assay to determine if UV treatment induced a specific reduction of cytotoxic activity. The in vivo and in vitro primary responses against syngeneic tumors and allogeneic cells were unaffected, as was the "memory" response (in vivo stimulation, in vitro restimulation) against alloantigens. In contrast, the memory response of UV-treated mice against syngeneic, UV-induced tumors was consistently and significantly depressed. The cytotoxicity generated by tumor cell stimulation in vivo or in vitro was tumor-specific and T cell-dependent. Since the primary response against syngeneic UV-induced tumors produces apparently normal amounts of tumor-specific cytotoxic activity, UV-treated mice may not reject transplanted syngeneic tumors because of too few T effector memory cells. These results imply that, at least in this system, tumor rejection depends mostly on the secondary responses against tumor antigens and that at least one carcinogen can, indirectly, specifically regulate immune responses.     

Interactions of bone marrow cells from young and old mice with syngeneic and allogeneic thymic tissue

Age-related changes manifested in MHC-linked recognition of bone marrow (BM) cells by the thymic stroma were studied in vitro model of thymus-BM chimeras. Fetal thymuses (FT) depleted of self-lymphocytes were colonized with BM cells from syngeneic and allogeneic donor mice. When cells from young (3-month-old) or old (24-month-old) donors syngeneic to the stroma were seeded in a mixture with cells of allogeneic young origins (C57BL/6J-Thy1.2 and ARK/J-Thy1.1 seeded onto C57BL/6J FT), the syngeneic cells showed an age-related developmental advantage. Accordingly, cells from the old syngeneic mice manifested a significantly reduced capacity to compete with allogeneic cells when compared with the young syngeneic cells. When allogeneic BM cells from young or old mice were seeded onto the thymic stroma in a mixture with BM cells from young donors syngeneic to that stroma (BALB/c-Thy1.2 mixed with C57BL/Ka-Thy1.1 seeded onto C57BL/6J or C57BL/Ka FT), the Thy1+ cells which developed were mainly of syngeneic origin. The age of the allogeneic cells had no significant effect on the results. However, when old allogeneic cells were mixed with old syngeneic cells, the developmental advantage of the syngeneic cells was not manifested. When seeding of allogeneic cells was followed 1 day later by seeding of syngeneic cells, the syngeneic advantage was eliminated, suggesting that the MHC-linked competition began during the first 24 hr of contact with the thymic tissue. When BM-derived thmocytes grown in FT explants were transferred onto second FT recipient explants of the same genotype as the first ones, the syngeneic advantage was abolished, suggesting either that the thymic microenvironment was modified as a result of colonization or that it induced a change in the BM cells. In this respect, the young allogeneic BM-derived thymocytes showed a significant advantage when compared with the old cells. Thus, the MHC-linked syngeneic preference in the early development of BM cells is also manifested in aging mice, yet at a level that is significantly reduced compared with that seen in the young mice.     

"Nonspecific" immunoenhancing T cells in tumor-bearing mice include anti-idiotypic subsets

Splenocytes from DBA/2 mice inoculated 3 wk earlier with syngeneic P815 mastocytoma tumor cells produce increased numbers of antibody plaque-forming cells (PFC) when stimulated with either sheep red blood cells (SRBC) or phosphorylcholine (PC) on Streptococcus pneumoniae R36a in vitro. The nature of this nonspecific hyperreactivity was investigated in mixed cultures of purified splenic T and B cells. The addition of T cells from P815 tumor-bearing mice (TP815) into the cultures of normal B cells produced a significant enhancement of the PFC response to both SRBC and PC, when compared with the effect of normal T cells added to control cultures. The idiotypic profile of the enhanced anti-PC response was studied by a PFC-inhibition assay with monoclonal antibodies against two distinct idiotopic determinants (Id) of the T15 family. Normal B cells produced greater than 90% of T15 Id-positive (Id+) PFC. Addition of normal T cells diminished the proportion of T15 Id+ PFC to approximately 60%, whereas the rest of PFC were Id-. Addition of the immunoenhancing TP815 cells into the normal B cells cultures elevated the number of both T15 Id+ and Id- PFC responses, proportionally. However, when TP815 cells were first incubated on T15 protein-coated dishes and the non-adherent fraction was added to B cell cultures, the anti-PC PFC response remained enhanced but consisted of predominently T15 Id- PFC. These observations suggest that the early stage of P815 tumor growth activates various populations of specific helper/amplifier T cells including subsets with anti-idiotypic activity and that the generalized increase of antibody response to various antigens in tumor-bearing mice may be regarded as a polyclonal activation of specific T cells.     

LPS-induced autoantibody response. I. Ontogenic development of PFC response to bromelain-treated syngeneic erythrocytes

Normal adult mice have been shown to contain a large number of cells secreting antibodies against bromelain-treated syngeneic erythrocytes (Br.MRBC) and the numbers remarkably increase by the stimulation with LPS. In this report development of the anti-Br.MRBC response during ontogeny was examined and it was shown that on the injection of LPS suckling mice responded little to generate splenic plaque-forming cells (PFC) against Br.MRBC in vivo and in vitro. The responsiveness of suckling mice to produce anti-Br.MRBC was shown to be less developed than the anti-TNP response or the mitotic response to LPS. The low responsiveness of suckling mice was analyzed in terms of suppressor activity in the spleen cell population, proliferative capacities of the precursors of anti-Br.MRBC PFC, and their frequencies in the spleen. In the coculture experiment of suckling and adult spleen cells or culture of anti-brain-associated Thy 1-treated, macrophage-depleted spleen cell population, no evidence was obtained to show that suckling spleen cells contained suppressor cells. Kinetic profiles studied in vitro showed that anti-Br.MRBC PFC in the suckling spleen did not increase during the culture as those in the adult spleen. Studies on the precursor frequencies revealed that spleen cells of 15-day-old mice contained precursors of anti-Br.MRBC PFC amounting to 20.5% of the adult precursors whereas the PFC response in vitro by the former was only 4% of the latter. From these experimental data, it was concluded that the low responsiveness of suckling mice was partly due to the low frequency of the precursors in the spleen and, in addition, to the defective nature of the precursors in proliferating to differentiate into PFC.     

Polyclonal B-cell activators induce immunological response to autologous serum proteins.

The existence of autoreactive B cells directed against a variety of self-antigens has been demonstrated by several investigations. However, no definitive evidence has been obtained for the existence of self-reactive B lymphocytes capable of reacting against soluble antigens circulating in high concentrations. The aim of the present investigation was to study whether such cells could be detected after in vitro activation of B cells with polyclonal B-cell activators. It was found that mouse spleen cells cultured for 3 days in the presence of the polyclonal B-cell activator LPS were capable of releasing antibodies with specificity for autologous serum- or albumin-coated sheep red blood cells (SRBC). This phenomenon was highly specific since the addition of autologous albumin in the agar during the plaque assay inhibited the number of plaques to control levels. These autoantibodies were found to belong to the IgM class. The implications of these findings for the understanding of the mechanism of self-tolerance are discussed.