Long-term-cultured mouse B-lymphocyte line. I. Establishment and characterization of mouse B-lymphocyte line

Mouse B-cell line was established by culturing anti-Thy-1 antibody and complement-treated splenic B cells with the conditioned medium of concanavalin A-stimulated spleen cell-culture supernatant. At the eighth week of culture, it was revealed that 100% of the long-term-cultured cells had both cytoplasmic and surface immunoglobulin. These cells were then maintained in the conditioned medium together with T-cell-depleted splenic and then splenic adherent feeder cells. Flow cytometric studies of the B-cell line showed that they had surface mu, delta, and kappa but no gamma, lambda, Lyt-1, or Lyt-2. The growth of the B-cell line was dependent on the factor(s) derived from concanavalin A-stimulated conditioned medium. It was found that IL-2 was the major factor supporting the B-cell growth. The B-cell line did not secrete immunoglobulin spontaneously, but it could differentiate into antibody-forming cells through the stimulation of bacterial lipopolysaccharides. The technique for obtaining mouse B-cell lines are reproducible in our laboratory and one of those lines has been propagated and maintained for 16 months to the present.     

Detection of HLA-DRw (Ia-like) antigens on human T lymphocytes grown in tissue culture.

Human T lymphocytes that proliferate in the presence of conditioned medium from PHA-stimulated allogeneic peripheral blood cells were shown to express IPA antigens after the 8th culture day. Ia antigens as detected by xenogeneic antisera were present on 80 to 90% of the cultured cells which were also strongly reactive with xenogeneic antisera defining a human T cell antigen and formed E rosettes. Control cultures with PHA or no conditioned medium expressed T cell but not Ia antigens. These cultured T cells also express the same HLA-DRw determinants as the B cells of the donor they were derived from. Absorption of xenogeneic Ia, and HLA-DRw alloantisera with cultured T cells completely removed the reactivity of these sera for enriched peripheral blood B lymphocytes from normal donors.     

Studies of in vitro activation and differentiation of human B lymphocytes. I. Phenotypic and functional characterization of the B cell population responding to anti-Ig antibody

Investigation of the activation of splenic B cells by anti-immunoglobulin (Ig) antibody has enabled us to characterize the anti-Ig-responsive B cell and to analyze the phenotypic changes which accompany proliferation and differentiation. The anti-Ig antibody-responsive B cell population was characterized by the expression of high levels of the B2 antigen and represented approximately 40% of splenic B cells. Brisk mitogenesis which peaked at 3 to 4 days was induced by anti-Ig antibody. The proliferative phase was characterized phenotypically by a dramatic decline in B2 antigen expression, with most cells showing no detectable B2 by 4 days post-activation. The other hallmark of this phase was de novo expression of a group of "activation antigens." These included the B cell-restricted antigens B-LAST 1, BB1, and B5, and the T cell-associated interleukin 2 receptor and T12 antigens. Concomitantly, B1, B4, and Ia expression increased, the increase being roughly proportional to the increase in cell size. After day 4, the mitogenic response progressively diminished, while Ig synthesis increased. During this differentiation phase, cell surface antigens again displayed a distinct sequence of changes. The five activation antigens and the B1, B4, and Ia antigens began to decrease. However, two markers, T10 and PCA-1, which are found on plasmacytomas, appeared and their level of expression steadily increased. These changes and the appearance of morphologically identifiable plasma cells required the presence of T cells in this system. T cell supernatants alone induced Ig secretion but did not induce expression of PCA-1 or the appearance of cells with plasma cell morphology. The culture system developed in this study has allowed us to analyze the antigenic changes following activation by anti-Ig antibody. This sequence of changes has not only permitted the identification of antigens which, by their appearance at distinct stages may have an important role in proliferation and differentiation of B cells, but also provides us with the means of studying the function of each antigen.     

Fibroblast-secreted macrophage colony-stimulating factor is responsible for generation of biphenotypic B/macrophage cells from a subset of mouse B lymphocytes.

Normal and malignant CD5+ B lymphocytes can develop macrophage-like characteristics. One stimulus of this phenotypic shift is culture of normal mouse splenic B lymphocytes with splenic fibroblasts or their conditioned media. These biphenotypic B/macrophage (B/M phi) cells simultaneously display macrophage characteristics, such as phagocytosis and F4/80 expression, while retaining B cell features, including expression of surface Ig, CD5, B220, and rearranged Ig genes. The present study investigated the fibroblast-secreted factor that promotes this phenotypic change from B cell to B/M phi cell. RT-PCR analysis demonstrated that mRNA for M-CSF is produced by splenic fibroblasts. Recombinant M-CSF (CSF-1) could replace fibroblast-conditioned medium to elicit the development and survival of B/M phi cells from splenic B lymphocytes. In addition, neutralization of fibroblast-secreted M-CSF with specific mAbs abrogated the ability of conditioned supernatants to promote outgrowth of B/M phi cells. The transition from B lymphocyte to B/M phi cell was marked by the kinetic appearance of mRNA for the M-CSF receptor, c-fms, at day 3 following culture initiation. These results demonstrate that M-CSF is important in the development and physiology of mouse B/M phi cells and potentially in the growth of human biphenotypic hematological malignancies. Interestingly, the presence of IFN-gamma in splenic B lymphocyte cultures abrogated the effect of fibroblast-conditioned medium or M-CSF on outgrowth of B/M phi cells. Furthermore, these findings suggest that a Th1 microenvironment favored by typical macrophages is detrimental to the outgrowth of B/M phi cells.     

Surface antigen changes during B-lymphocyte activation in primates

It is shown that B-cell-specific surface antigens are conserved on lymphocytes from phylogenetically distant primate species. Characterization of the expression of those antigens on the surface of simian B lymphocytes has led to two observations with important implications for human B-cell physiology. First, lectin stimulation in vitro or antigen stimulation in situ in lymph nodes drives a population of human B lymphocytes to express the B2 but not the B1 antigen on its surface. Second, under pathologic circumstances, this activated B cell can be found in the peripheral blood of monkeys. Thus, the “B2 only” cell defines an activated B lymphocyte whose presence may provide useful diagnostic information concerning pathologic processes.     

Mitogens and T-independent antigens stimulate T lymphocytes to secrete La antigens.

Previous reports from this laboratory suggest that certain I region-associated (Ia) antigens can be detected in normal mouse serum. It was found that, when mitogens are injected into mice, they produce substantial increases (up to 125-fold) in the levels of these Ia antigens in mouse serum. Similar increases were obtained when either T- or B-cell mitogens were injected. Furthermore, in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that the mitogens stimulated T cells to secrete Ia antigens. It appears likely, however, that the Ia antigens detected in these studies may differ from the conventional Ia glycoproteins found on the surface of B lymphocytes.All T-independent antigens tested also augmented the concentrations of Ia antigen in serum, the increases depending on the T-independent antigen injected and ranging from 3- to 125-fold. In contrast, T-dependent antigens, unless injected in large amounts, were unable to produce detectable changes in the serum levels of Ia antigen. These data indicate that an inverse relationship exists between the T dependence of an antigen and its ability to stimulate T cells to secrete Ia antigens. On the basis of this conclusion it is proposed that all antigens are T dependent and merely vary in the efficiency with which they activate T cells to release helper factors.     

Mechanism of Epstein-Barr virus-induced human B-lymphocyte activation

The mechanism of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) activation of human B lymphocytes toward Ig synthesis was investigated in a direct anti-sheep red blood cell (SRBC) antibody plaque-forming cell (PFC) system. Exposure of human peripheral blood lymphocytes to EBV in vitro resulted in an anti-SRBC PFC response in 12 of 16 normal donors. The EBV-induced anti-SRBC PFC response did not require the presence of autologous helper T lymphocytes, but was inhibited by the presence of autologous concanavalin A-generated suppressor T cells. Live virus was required for B-cell activation since the EBV-induced PFC response was inhibited by exposure of EBV to ultraviolet light. Using fluorescent techniques which detected simultaneous intracytoplasmic (ICP) Ig production and the presence of EB nuclear antigen, we found that most, if not all, EBV-activated ICP Ig-positive cells were virally infected. Thus, these studies suggest that viral infection of Ig-producing B lymphocytes is required for EBV-induced polyclonal B-lymphocyte activation. Although the participation of T lymphocytes is not required for the induction of EBV-triggered B-lymphocyte Ig production, activated T lymphocytes can serve as modulators of this response.     

Characterization and function of autoreactive T-lymphocyte clones isolated from normal, unprimed mice

Self-Ia-reactive cloned T-cell lines, designated PK, were established by long-term culture of T cells from normal DBA/2 mice with irradiated syngeneic splenic adherent cells (SAC), rich in macrophages and dendritic cells. The cell lines were Thy 1+, Lyt 1+, Lyt 2-, produced IL-2 following stimulation with syngeneic spleen cells, and did not exhibit alloreactivity when screened against six different H-2 haplotypes. Of the five cloned PK cell lines tested, four were I-Ed restricted while one was I-Ad restricted as determined by genetic mapping and blocking studies carried out with monoclonal anti-Ia sera. Extensive specificity studies suggested that the PK cells reacted to syngeneic Ia molecules alone and not to foreign antigens such as fetal calf serum (FCS) used in the culture medium, in association with self-Ia. SAC pulsed with FCS or other protein antigens such as turkey gamma-globulin (TGG) were tested for their ability to induce proliferation of autoreactive T cells and other antigen-specific T cells using culture conditions consisting of serumless medium and interleukin 2 (IL-2). The data showed that the autoreactive T cells proliferated better in response to antigen-unpulsed SAC, while FCS-specific and TGG-specific cell lines, developed independently, proliferated only in response to FCS- or TGG-pulsed SAC, respectively, but not to antigen-unpulsed SAC. These results clearly distinguished the autoreactive T-cell clones from the antigen-specific T-cell clones. Preliminary studies carried out to investigate the functions of autoreactive T cells suggested that these cells helped in the in vitro differentiation of alloantigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) from CTL precursors obtained from the thymus and augmented syngeneic, allogeneic, and antigen-specific immune responses in vitro. The autoreactive T cells were also capable of inducing both proliferation and differentiation of antigen-specific populations of B cells in the absence of antigen. The present investigation suggests that autoreactive, non-antigen-reactive T cells can be cloned from normal, unimmunized mice and that such cell lines may provide a powerful tool for analyzing the role of the syngeneic mixed lymphocyte reaction in induction and maintenance of both T-and B-cell immune responses.     

Respiratory burst in human B lymphocytes. Triggering of surface Ig receptors induces modulation of chemiluminescence signal.

B lymphocytes have been shown to proliferate and release oxygen metabolites when surface Ig is cross-linked and when stimulated with phorbol ester. Biochemical evidence has been provided for the presence of a superoxide generating system in B cells, which seems to be identical to the well-characterized NADPH-oxidase of phagocytes. In this report, we show that normal and EBV-transformed B cells produce superoxide anions after stimulation with phorbol ester and when surface Ig was cross-linked, as detected by lucigenin-dependent chemiluminescence. Anti-surface IgG antibodies induced a significant respiratory burst whereas those directed against surface IgM had no effect on B cell oxidative metabolism. Prestimulated B lymphocytes responded to further triggering by the same or another ligand. Pretreatment with Staphlococcus aureus Cowan I strain (SAC) or anti-IgM antibodies resulted in complete unresponsiveness to subsequent SAC or anti-IgG stimulation, but it did not affect PMA- and ionomycin-mediated B cell chemiluminescence. In contrast to preincubation with anti-IgM antibodies, the pretreatment of B cells with SAC induced a transient inhibitory effect on B cell signaling. In fact, SAC-pretreated B lymphocytes could be restimulated with the same ligand when blast cells were isolated. Furthermore, a 24-h incubation of the pretreated B cells in the absence of SAC completely restored the SAC-mediated respiratory burst. These results suggest that two distinct mechanisms may account for SAC- and anti-IgM-induced inhibition: a transient and reversible modulation of surface Ig, induced by SAC, and a long-lasting desensitization of the surface Ig receptors, respectively. These findings may have interesting implications for understanding the transduction of negative signals in B lymphocytes.     

Cellular mechanism of primary anti-Thy-1 antibody responses in vitro induced by uniquely immunogenic thymocyte antigens

Thy-1 antigens are the only cell membrane antigens known to be able to induce primary antibody responses in vitro. We have shown that antigens from the thymocytes of mice and rats were highly immunogenic in cultures of murine spleen cells for the induction of Thy-1.1-specific plaque-forming cell responses, whereas antigens from other tissues, including brains and bone marrow, were poorly immunogenic, if at all. The thymocyte-specific Thy-1 immunogenicity was carried by disrupted cell membranes, and the specific activity for inducing responses was closely linked to Thy-1. We then tried to determine the mechanism of anti-Thy-1 antibody responses in vitro that were induced by the uniquely immunogenic thymocyte antigens. The thymocyte Thy-1 antigens behaved as T cell-independent class 2 (TI-2) antigens: they induced responses in athymic nude mice but not in CBA/N mice with a B cell defect. The apparent TI-2 responses to thymocyte Thy-1 did, however, require Thy-1+ cells in the responder, similar to anti-DNP-Ficoll responses. The full development of the anti-Thy-1 responses required the participation of splenic adherent cells (SAC). Nevertheless, the mechanism of the SAC dependency of anti-Thy-1 responses did not involve antigen presentation to lymphocytes by antigen-pulsed SAC, which contrasted with the finding that the presentation of antigen by live SAC to lymphocytes was indispensable for responses to DNP-Ficoll. The poor Thy-1 responsiveness of SAC-depleted spleen cells was fully restored by the addition of soluble factors (IL 1-like molecules) released from SAC into the culture, which did not replace the SAC-requirement of responses to DNP-Ficoll. It was concluded from these results that Thy-1 or Thy-1-linked structures on thymocyte membranes have an intrinsic activity to directly signal either TI-2 B cells or immature T cells, or both, for activation in the presence of soluble factors released from adherent accessory cells. This conclusion is discussed in relation to a hypothetical view that the thymocyte Thy-1 would physiologically mediate cell-to-cell interactions among special subsets of lymphocytes under thymic influence.     

Regulation of B-lymphocyte activation, proliferation, and immunoglobulin secretion

Lymphocyte growth and differentiation are controlled by signals resulting from the interaction of antigen and cellular products, such as lymphokines, with specific cell membrane receptors. Resting B lymphocytes can be activated by low concentrations (1-5 micrograms/ml) of antibodies to membrane IgM, which is the B-lymphocyte receptor for antigen. The binding of anti-IgM to B cells causes a rapid increase in intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i), in inositol phosphate concentration, and in protein kinase activity. Moreover, the effects of anti-IgM on B cells are mimicked by the combined use of calcium ionophores and phorbol esters. Since phorbol esters activate protein kinase c, this suggests that the increase in [Ca2+]i and in phosphatidylinositol metabolism stimulated by anti-IgM are critical events in B-cell activation. The entry into S phase of B cells stimulated with anti-IgM depends on the action of a T-cell-derived factor designated B-cell stimulatory factor (BSF)-1. This is a 20,000-Da protein which is a powerful inducer of class II major histocompatibility complex molecules. Although an important cofactor for B-cell proliferative responses to anti-IgM, its major locus of action is on resting B cells. B cells stimulated with anti-IgM and BSF-1 do not synthesize secretory IgM. However, if two additional T-cell-derived factors, B151-TRF and interleukin-2, are added to cultures, a substantial proportion of stimulated B cells produce secretory IgM. BSF-1 has also been shown to participate in the "switch" in Ig class expression. Resting B cells cultured with lipopolysaccharide will switch to IgG1 secretion in the presence of purified BSF-1.     

Effects of monoclonal antibodies against lymphocyte surface antigens on interleukin 2 excretion by Epstein-Barr virus-specific human T-cell hybridomas

Monoclonal antibodies were used as probes to study the role of cell surface antigens in the response of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-specific human T-T hybridomas to autologous EBV-infected B lymphoblasts. Somatic cell hybrids were generated by fusing EBV-primed peripheral blood T lymphocytes with a mutant clone of the JM human T-lymphoblastoid-cell line. When exposed to autologous EBV-infected B lymphoblasts, the resulting hybrid clones released Interleukin 2 into the culture medium. Incubation of the EBV-infected B cells with two monoclonal antibodies against human Ia-like molecules blocked their ability to trigger the hybridomas. Under the same conditions, monoclonal antibodies against beta 2-microglobulin, and a 45,000 MW surface antigen common to EBV-infected B lymphoblasts, did not alter the capacity of the B cells to stimulate the hybridomas. None of four monoclonal antibodies against surface antigens on the T-cell hybridomas impaired their responsiveness to EBV-infected B lymphoblasts. These results suggest the possibility that naturally occurring or exogenously administered antibodies against Ia molecules might interfere with T-cell regulation of EBV-induced B-cell activation.     

MHC-chromosome dosage effects: evidence for increased expression of Ia glycoprotein and alteration of B cell subpopulations in neonatal aneuploid chickens

Quantitative variation in the expression of MHC-encoded class II (Ia) glycoproteins has been associated with stages of lymphocyte development and a number of disease conditions. We have used an avian MHC dosage model to study the regulation of Ia expression and the effects of quantitative variation in membrane Ia on B-cell development. Lymphocyte membrane expression of Ia glycoprotein molecules and the frequency of small-versus-large lymphocytes were examined in trisomic line chickens containing either two (disomic), three (trisomic), or four (tetrasomic) copies of the microchromosome encoding the MHC. This was accomplished by quantitative laser flow cytometry analysis of bursa-resident B lymphocytes from neonatal trisomic line chickens. The aneuploids (trisomics and tetrasomics) expressed more cell surface Ia than did normal disomic birds. Furthermore, the aneuploids exhibited a greater frequency of small B lymphocytes as compared to disomic chickens. Dual parameter analysis of Ia. quantity and cell size was undertaken to study B lymphocyte subpopulations in these birds. It was observed that the aneuploids had altered frequencies of two distinct subpopulations of cells: (1) an increased percentage of small cells which express high levels of Ia antigen and (2) a decreased percentage of large cells which express medium levels of Ia antigen. These findings support the view that MHC class II genes are regulated and expressed in a dosage-dependent manner. Therefore, increases in the number of MHC copies per cell result in the increased expression of Ia glycoprotein on bursa-resident B cells. The stepwise increase in membrane Ia on trisomic and tetrasomic B cells is correlated, and perhaps casually linked, with progressive degrees of alteration of developing B cell subpopulations in the bursa of aneuploid chicks. These events may ultimately alter the humoral immunity of the aneuploid animals.     

The distribution of Ia antigens on the surfaces of lymphocytes.

The distribution of Ia antigens was studied on murine spleen lymphocytes by an ultrastructural technique employing deep freeze-etched replicas. Ia antigens were labeled on cells from appropriate congenic and recombinant strains of mice by incubating the cells with FITC-conjugated anti-Iak antibody, followed by ferritin-coupled Fab anti-FITC. Ia antigens were detected predominantly on immunoglobulin (Ig)-bearing B lymphocytes. Antigens coded for by the entire Ik region were present on the surfaces of 95% of the positive cells (from B10.BR mice) in densely packed microclusters. Ia specificities coded for by the I-A and I-C subregions (on 4R and B10.HTT mice) exhibited a more variable pattern, with 30 to 35% of the labeled cells having sparsely distributed Ia antigens in relatively discrete microclusters. Binding of anti-Iak antibody at 37 degrees C led to patch formation but not to capping. Modulation of surface Ig left Ia antigens diffusely distributed on the cell surface, indicating that these two membrane proteins are independent molecules.     

Cell-mediated immunity to chemically xenogenized tumors. II. Evidence for accessory function and self-antigen presentation by a highly immunogenic tumor variant

To determine whether antigen-presenting ability might be involved in the superior immunogenicity of chemically xenogenized tumors over that of parental cells, we tested a murine lymphoma line xenogenized by a triazene derivative for expression of Ia antigens, ability to present soluble antigen in vitro, and production of factor(s) active in a mouse thymocyte assay. Results showed that Ia antigens, absent on nonimmunogenic parental L5178Y cells, were expressed on a xenogenized, highly immunogenic tumor variant (clone D), as detected by immunofluorescence. While the ability of parental cells to stimulate lymphocyte proliferation in vitro was lost on removal of Ia+ cells from the responder population, considerable augmentation of reactivity was observed upon depletion of Ia+ cells from the population of splenocytes responding to the xenogenized cells. Under these conditions, stimulation was blocked by anti-Ia antibodies, or an anti-L3T4 reagent or antibodies to the novel antigenic determinants induced by xenogenization. In addition, no stimulating activity was observed following exposure of clone D cells to glutaraldehyde or lysosomotropic agents such as chloroquine and ammonia. When the ability of clone D cells to present ovalbumin in vitro was assayed, it was found that the xenogenized cells could present the soluble antigen to specifically primed lymphocytes. Moreover, clone D cells could substitute for splenic adherent cells in the proliferative reaction of splenocytes to concanavalin A. Finally, when the supernate from clone D-cell culture pulsed with phorbol myristic acetate was tested in a mouse thymocyte assay, considerable IL-1-like activity was disclosed.     

Surface antigen changes occurring in short-term cultures of activated human T lymphocytes: analysis by flow cytometry

Surface antigens of activated and cultured human T cells were studied using peripheral blood lymphocytes activated with conditioned medium from phytohemagglutinin-activated leukocytes and maintained in liquid culture for 2 weeks with conditioned medium containing Interleukin 2. The ensuing cell population was tested for kinetic changes in cell size and for the expression of surface antigens by immunofluorescence staining with a panel of monoclonal antibodies and analysis by flow cytometry. Upon activation, the cell population progressively increased in size to large blasts, with the rapid appearance on all of the large dividing cells of the antigen recognized by OKT9, the transferrin receptor. Cells within the population continued to express the common peripheral T-cell antigens bound by OKT3 and UCHT1, and also the antigen bound by 3A1, but never the antigen bound by OKT6, a thymic cell marker. From the time of activation an increasing proportion of the T cells, up to 80%, expressed the antigen detected with OKIa and FMC4, which recognise nonpolymorphic Ia determinants. This sequence of events was followed by a general decrease in size of the cell population, a process accompanied by further phenotypic changes. The percentage of cells expressing Ia antigens decreased, but most striking was the rapid change in the OKT4:OKT8 ratio of cells within the population, from 60:40 to 40:60. Thereafter the proportions of OKT4⁺ to OKT8⁺ cells within the cultures remained relatively stable and it is suggested that these data provide evidence for a possible change in phenotype of cultured human T lymphoblasts, from OKT4 to OKT8.     

Activation requirements of cloned inducer T cells. III. Need for two stimulator cells in the response of a cloned line to Mls determinants

To gain insight into the nature of Mls determinants, we examined the stimulator cells responsible for the activation of inducer T cell clones by Mls determinants. Two types of clones responding to Mls determinants were identified. One type responded to purified B cells, but not to splenic adherent cells (SAC), from mice bearing Mls stimulatory determinants. The other type of Mls-reactive T cell clone, including the representative clone Ly1-N5, demonstrated a vigorous response to unfractionated spleen cells, but showed little or no response to B cells alone or to SAC alone from mice bearing the Mlsa or Mlsd stimulatory determinant. The response of these clones to Mls determinants required stimulation by two cell types. The failure of clone Ly1-N5 to respond to Mlsa-bearing B cells was reversed by the addition of SAC taken from mice bearing the Mlsa allele. In addition, SAC from mice bearing the nonstimulatory Mlsb allele could synergize with B cells from Mlsa-bearing animals. B cells were required to provide the Mlsa determinant, because the combination of Mlsa-bearing SAC and Mlsb-bearing B cells did not activate the clone. The response of clone Ly1-N5 to Mls is restricted by Ia determinants (shared by H-2b, H-2d, and H-2k haplotypes but not by the H-2q haplotype). The permissive H-2 alleles can be present either on the stimulator B cell or on the SAC. The optimal response of the clone was obtained by using B cells bearing Mlsa and the permissive Ia epitopes. However, a significant response of the clone to B cells bearing Mlsa but an inappropriate Ia (Iaq) was also seen in the presence of SAC bearing the nonstimulatory Mlsb allele but the permissive Ia epitopes.     

Antigen-inhibited B-lymphocyte differentiation. X. Sedimentation velocity characterization of antigen-binding cells and antibody-forming-cell progenitors in the in vitro microculture immune response of unprimed CBA mice to NIP--POL antigen.

The B lymphocytes serving as antibody-forming-cell (AFC) progenitors have been investigated using two different types of separation methods. Sedimentation velocity fractionation was used to separate subsets of B lymphocytes differing primarily in size. Fractionation on a 4-hydroxy-3-iodo-5-nitrophenylacetic acid (NIP)-gelatin matrix was used to separate NIP-binding cells, a population highly enriched for cells with surface Ig receptors specific for the NIP hapten. Assessment of the functional capacity of the separated B cells was by culture at limiting dilution in the presence of thymus “filler” cells, using the T-independent antigen NIP-POL (polymerized bacterial flagellin) to induce antibody formation. Splenic AFC-progenitors from both adult conventional and neonatal germ-free mice were a physically heterogeneous population, with activity in small, medium, and large lymphocytes. The cells enriched by NIP-gelatin binding, whether isolated and counted directly or isolated and assayed as AFC-progenitors, were no less heterogeneous. These NIP-binding cells resembled in sedimentation characteristics the overall B-cell and overall NIP-specific AFC-progenitor populations, except for some relative enrichment of medium-sized cells (S value, 5.5 mm/hr). The small (S value, 3.4 mm/hr) B-cell region of adult mouse spleen contained both NIP-binding cells and cells responsive as AFC-progenitors in the microculture assay. This contrasts with the results of the in vivo adoptive immune assay, where the smaller B-cell region is unresponsive in unprimed adult animals.     

Association between B-lymphocyte membrane immunoglobulin and multiple members of the Src family of protein tyrosine kinases.

Treatment of B lymphocytes with antibodies to membrane immunoglobulin (Ig) stimulates protein tyrosine phosphorylation. We have examined the phosphorylation in vitro of proteins associated with membrane Ig. The Src family protein tyrosine kinases p53/56lyn, p59fyn, and p56lck are associated with membrane Ig in spleen B cells and B-cell lines and undergo phosphorylation in vitro. The pattern of expression of Src family protein tyrosine kinases in B cells varied. Our studies suggest that multiple kinases can potentially interact with membrane Ig and that within any one B-cell type, all of the Src family kinases expressed can be found in association with membrane Ig. We also observed that the Ig-associated Ig alpha protein, multiple forms of Ig beta, and proteins of 100 and 25 kDa were tyrosine phosphorylated in vitro. The 100- and 25-kDa proteins remain unidentified.