Anergy in immature B lymphocytes. Differential responses to receptor-mediated stimulation and T helper cells.
We have compared the responses of purified neonatal and adult B lymphocytes to stimulation by anti-Ig antibodies, which are functional analogues of Ag, and by Th cells. Neonatal B cells are markedly deficient in proliferative responses to anti-Ig antibodies + IL-4 or to anti-Ig conjugated to dextran, both of which induce strong proliferation of adult B cells in the absence of T lymphocytes. Anti-Ig antibodies actually inhibit the functional responses of neonatal B cells, even to polyclonal stimuli such as LPS. However, Th cells induce both proliferation and Ig secretion by neonatal B cells in the presence of Ag that bind to B cell Ig and are subsequently presented by the B cells. Thus, in neonatal B lymphocytes, cross-linking of membrane Ig in the absence of Th cells has a net inhibitory effect, and this inhibition is overcome by T cell help. These results also suggest that unresponsiveness or tolerance to thymus-independent Ag is induced in the B cells themselves, but tolerance to thymus-dependent proteins resides primarily in the T cell compartment.
Chang
T L
TL
Department of Pathology, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston, MA.
Capraro
G
G
Kleinman
R E
RE
Abbas
A K
AK
D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000276:immunology; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000378:metabolism; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D008211:Lymphocyte Cooperation; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*
D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D015847:Interleukin-4; D002118:Calcium