title: Fine specificity and isotype expression of anti-PC antibodies in BALB/c, MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr, and -(+)/+ mice at different ages.
abstract: The MRL/Mp congenic mouse strains develop autoimmune disease with age. We have investigated age- and autoimmune-related changes in fine specificity, isotype spectra and T15 idiotype expression of the anti-phosphorylcholine (PC) response in BALB/c, MRL/Mp- + and -lpr congenic mice and in (BALB/c x MRL/Mp-lpr) F1 hybrids. Two groups of anti-PC antibodies with distinct fine specificity are elicited in the memory response. Group I antibodies recognize the PC moiety and express the T15 idiotype. Antibodies of group II are specific for phenyl-phosphorylcholine and are found predominantly in the memory response. In the MRL/Mp-lpr and - + strains only a minor population of antibodies expresses the T15 idiotype at all ages. However, a third group of antibodies was observed which binds to PC-coated proteins and to Diplococcus pneumoniae R-36A. This binding was not inhibited by PC-chloride and appeared mainly in the memory response at old age. The isotype distribution among anti-PC antibodies was similar in all strains analysed. In the initial response primarily mu, gamma 3 and gamma 1 isotypes were produced, while in the memory response gamma 1 was dominant. Thus autoimmune defects and ageing result in altered anti-PC antibody and idiotype profile, probably related to altered states in both the T- and B-cell compartments.
authors.affiliation: Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research, Davos.
authors.forename: V E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Gerber
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ponnappan
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Heusser
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cinader
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Blaser
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D002794:Choline / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D005260:Female; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes / Q000032:analysis; D007132:Immunoglobulin Isotypes / Q000032:analysis*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D008232:Lymphoproliferative Disorders / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010767:Phosphorylcholine / Q000276:immunology*; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes; D007132:Immunoglobulin Isotypes; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D010767:Phosphorylcholine; D002794:Choline