Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B cells bearing idiotypes of anti-DNA autoantibodies.
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-transformed B cells obtained from healthy subjects had the same idiotypes of anti-DNA autoantibodies on their surface as those obtained from patients suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus. These clones secreted anti-single-stranded or anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies. Among them, some produced anti-DNA idiotype-positive antibodies but failed to bind DNA. This was confirmed by a competitive inhibition radioimmunoassay. It was then considered whether or not the expression of anti-DNA idiotype on B-cell clones related to the anti-DNA antibody activity in vivo. The amounts of anti-DNA antibodies were not associated with the incidence of idiotype-positive B cells in the EBV-transformed cell lines from normals. The results indicate that the clones committed to the synthesis of anti-DNA idiotype-positive antibodies commonly exist at a resting state in the circulation of healthy subjects, probably through the self-tolerance regulatory system.
Takai
O
O
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.
Sasaki
T
T
Muryoi
T
T
Tamate
E
E
Yoshinaga
K
K
Sano
H
H
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral; D004247:DNA / Q000276:immunology*; D000939:Epitopes; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology*
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D000939:Epitopes; D004247:DNA