Mercury induced B-cell activation and antinuclear antibodies in mice.
The effects of mercury exposure on the immune system was investigated in SJL and C57BL/6J mice. 1.6 mg HgCl2/kg body weight was injected subcutaneously every third day for two or four weeks. SJL mice developed splenic cell hyperplasia, with a transiently increased number of splenic cells secreting immunoglobulins of the IgM, IgG and IgG1 isotypes and anti-TNP antibodies, increased serum immunoglobulin concentrations, and antinuclear antibodies with a homogeneous and/or nucleolar pattern. The C57BL/6J mice showed a more short-lived increase in the number of immunoglobulin-secreting splenic cells and serum immunoglobulins, and a weak, exclusively homogeneous ANA pattern consisting of IgM antibodies.
Hultman
P
P
Department of Pathology I, University of Linköping, Sweden.
Eneström
S
S
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000818:Animals; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000276:immunology; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002452:Cell Count; D005260:Female; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008297:Male; D008628:Mercury / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains
D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D008628:Mercury