Selective peripheral expansion and activation of B cells expressing endogenous immunoglobulin in mu-transgenic mice.
Two different lines of C57BL/6 mice (IgHb) carrying complete rearranged mu chain genes from BALB/c (IgMa) were analyzed for the expression and secretion of endogenous as well as transgenic immunoglobulins at the level of single cells. Quantitation of B cells expressing endogenous IgMb by cytofluorometry, limiting dilution analyses of clonal precursors and secretory cell assays revealed a marked selective expansion, activation and terminal differentiation of those cells producing endogenous immunoglobulins. Thus, the very infrequent IgMb-bearing B cells produced in bone marrow of transgenic mice accumulate in spleen, where they are activated and account for roughly half of all natural immunoglobulin-secreting cells. These observations indicate that mu-transgenic mice are valuable in studies of the antibody repertoire selection operating in unprimed animals but their use could be misleading in the analyzing "monoclonal" immune system.
Grandien
A
A
Unité d'Immunobiologie, C.N.R.S. URA 359, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.
Coutinho
A
A
Andersson
J
J
D000818:Animals; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000096:biosynthesis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D007072:Immunoglobulin D / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D007148:Immunoglobulin mu-Chains / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D007519:Isoantigens / Q000032:analysis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology
D000954:Antigens, Surface; D007072:Immunoglobulin D; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007148:Immunoglobulin mu-Chains; D007519:Isoantigens