Immunologic abnormality in NZB/W F1 mice. Thymus-independent expansion of B cells responding to interleukin-6.
We have previously reported that B cell abnormality in NZB/W F1 mice developed independently of thymus. Here we examined further whether B cells from NZB/W F1 mice respond to interleukin-6 (IL-6), a factor for terminal differentiation of B cells. When freshly isolated splenic B cells were incubated for 5 days in the presence of human IL-6, an increased production of both IgM and IgG, including anti-DNA antibody, was evident in NZB/W F1 mice; there was no increase in BALB/c mice. A magnitude of augmentation in IgG but not IgM production by IL-6 became more apparent in older NZB/W F1 mice. The increased immunoglobulin production seen with IL-6 was neutralized by treatment with rabbit anti-recombinant human IL-6 antibody. As B cells from athymic NZB/W F1 nude mice also responded to IL-6, it was suggested that B cells in NZB/W F1 mice differentiated into the IL-6-responding state in a thymus-independent manner. This B cell abnormality may be associated with the pathogenesis of autoimmune disease in NZB/W F1 mice.
Mihara
M
M
Section of Immunopharmacology, Fuji-Gotemba Research Laboratories, Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Shizuoka, Japan.
Fukui
H
H
Koishihara
Y
Y
Saito
M
M
Ohsugi
Y
Y
D000818:Animals; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000096:biosynthesis; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004247:DNA / Q000276:immunology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000096:biosynthesis; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008814:Mice, Inbred NZB / Q000276:immunology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000276:immunology*
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D001323:Autoantibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D015850:Interleukin-6; D004247:DNA