Transgenic mice expressing a B cell growth and differentiation factor gene (interleukin 5) develop eosinophilia and autoantibody production.
Interleukin 5 (IL-5) has been suggested to be involved in the growth and differentiation of B cells and eosinophils. Especially, Ly-1+ B cells, which have been considered to produce autoantibodies, are selectively developed by this lymphokine in long-term bone marrow culture. To envisage the possible engagement of IL-5 in the development of these cells in vivo, transgenic mice carrying the mouse IL-5 gene ligated with a metallothionein promoter were generated. Transgenic mice carrying the IL-5 gene exhibited elevated levels of IL-5 in the serum and an increase in the levels of serum IgM and IgA. A massive eosinophilia in peripheral blood, bone marrow, and spleen, and an infiltration of muscle and liver with eosinophils, were observed. When cadmium-containing saline was injected intraperitoneally into transgenic mice, IL-5 production was augmented about five times within 24 h, and a distinctive Ly-1+ B cell population became apparent in the spleen after 5 d. IL-5 receptors were detected on those cells by monoclonal antibodies against IL-5 receptors. Another interesting finding in these transgenic mice was an increase in polyreactive anti-DNA antibodies of IgM class. It is suggested, therefore, that aberrant expression of the IL-5 gene may induce accumulation of Ly-1+ B cells and eosinophils. Furthermore, this IL-5 transgenic mouse can be a model mouse for eosinophilia, and we can determine the role of IL-5 in the differentiation of Ly-1+ B cells and eosinophils by using this mouse.
Tominaga
A
A
Institute for Medical Immunology, Kumamoto University Medical School, Japan.
Takaki
S
S
Koyama
N
N
Katoh
S
S
Matsumoto
R
R
Migita
M
M
Hitoshi
Y
Y
Hosoya
Y
Y
Yamauchi
S
S
Kanai
Y
Y
D000818:Animals; D000950:Antigens, Ly / Q000096:biosynthesis; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000276:immunology; D002104:Cadmium / Q000494:pharmacology; D002455:Cell Division; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015870:Gene Expression; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology
D000950:Antigens, Ly; D001323:Autoantibodies; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D015848:Interleukin-5; D002104:Cadmium; D008668:Metallothionein