Abnormal distribution of IL-6 receptor in aged MRL/lpr mice: elevated expression on B cells and absence on CD4+ cells.
A mAb against murine IL-6 receptor (IL-6R), KMH7, was obtained by immunization of hamster with recombinant soluble murine IL-6R. Flow cytometry analysis of IL-6R distribution on lymphocytes in BALB/c showed that IL-6R was expressed on peripheral lymph node (LN) T cells of either CD4+ or CD8+ phenotype, and Peyer's patch IgA+ B cells, but not on splenic B cells and thymocytes. A similar distribution was observed in 5 week old MRL/lpr and 16-week-old MRL/n mice. In contrast, in 16 week old MRL/lpr mice of both sexes, IL-6R was expressed on splenic IgM+ cells. Peripheral LN CD4+ T cells in 16 week old female MRL/lpr mice did not express IL-6R. Thymocytes in any population with a phenotype of CD4+ or CD8+, double negative, and double positive were not stained with KMH7 in both BALB/c and MRL/lpr mice. In both strains, IL-6R was induced in CD4+ or CD8+ thymocytes after 2 days of culture, suggesting that CD4+ thymocytes in MRL/lpr have a potential to express IL-6R. Our results suggest that overexpression of IL-6R on B cells and absence of IL-6R on peripheral CD4+ cells are concurrent with, or may contribute to, B cell hyperreactivity and T cell abnormality in this strain.
Division of Immunology, Osaka University, Japan.
I
I
Kobayashi
T
T
Matsuda
T
T
Saito
K
K
Yasukawa
H
H
Kikutani
T
T
Hirano
T
T
Taga
T
T
Kishimoto
D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006224:Cricetinae; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000378:metabolism*; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000276:immunology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6