A defect in the humoral immune response to protein antigens and haptens in immunoglobulin mu heavy-chain transgenic mice.
We have examined the antibody response in mice expressing a functionally rearranged mu Ig heavy chain derived from a hybridoma antibody with specificity for the hapten 4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenyl (NP). Transgenic mice and their normal littermates were immunized with the antigens NP-OVA, the synthetic polypeptide (Tyr,Glu)-Ala-Lys ((T,G)-A-L), or saline. The presence of serum antibodies to NP-BSA, OVA, (T,G)-A-L, and BSA was examined by ELISA. Sera were evaluated prior to immunization and at periods of up to 4 months following immunization. Prior to immunization, transgenic mice had high levels of IgM anti-NP antibody but no detectable antibody to the other antigens. Both the primary and secondary antibody responses of transgenic mice to NP, OVA, and (T,G)-A-L were depressed when compared with the response of non-transgenic mice. Because of reports that these transgenic mice have increased proportions of CD5 + B-cells, a subpopulation associated with the production of autoantibodies, we examined these mice for the production of both IgG and IgM rheumatoid factors and anti-DNA antibodies. Transgenic mice had a modest increase in the spontaneous production of IgM anti-DNA. These data demonstrate a functional defect in the humoral immune response of mu transgenic mice.
Pincus
S H
SH
Laboratory of Microbial Structure and Function, NIAID, Hamilton, MT 59840.
Cole
R
R
Pisetsky
D S
DS
D000818:Animals; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D005803:Genes, Immunoglobulin; D006241:Haptens / Q000276:immunology*; D007148:Immunoglobulin mu-Chains / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic / Q000276:immunology*; D011506:Proteins / Q000276:immunology*
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D001323:Autoantibodies; D006241:Haptens; D007148:Immunoglobulin mu-Chains; D011506:Proteins