title: Lack of high avidity IgM anti-ssDNA antibodies in cells from autoimmune-prone and autoimmune mice.
abstract: Non-autoimmune prone CBA mice were compared with autoimmune prone NZB, NZW, and (NZB x NZW)F1 mice for the ability of their splenic cells to produce anti-ssDNA-forming cells spontaneously in vitro, measured in the plaque forming cell assay. The number of antibody forming cells was measured and the relative avidity of antibody produced determined using a plaque inhibition assay. Splenic lymphocytes from young animals of a non-autoimmune strain (CBA/J) were shown to be capable of generating anti-ssDNA IgM antibody-forming cells in culture which displayed a higher avidity for antigen than that from autoimmune-prone or frankly autoimmune mice. Since an increased switching from IgM to IgG autoantibody production and defects in Fc-mediated signalling by IgG antibody have been identified in autoimmunity, we suggest that the metabolic block, normally in force in non-autoimmune-prone animals, accounts for this elevated avidity of IgM autoantibody.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Panoskaltsis
authors.forename: N R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Sinclair
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D000915:Antibody Affinity; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D007141:Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D008814:Mice, Inbred NZB; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded; D007141:Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M