Human lymphocytes making rheumatoid factor and antibody to ssDNA belong to Leu-1+ B-cell subset.
B lymphocytes bearing the Leu-1 cell-surface antigen (Leu-1+), the human equivalent of mouse Ly-1+ B lymphocytes, have been detected in human peripheral blood, but there is little information on their frequency and properties. Analysis by fluorescence-activated cell sorter and double immunofluorescence showed that Leu-1+ B cells are consistently present in the peripheral blood and spleens of healthy subjects and constitute 17.0 +/- 5.0% (mean value +/- standard deviation) and 17.3 +/- 3.9%, respectively, of total B cells. When purified Leu-1+ and Leu-1- B lymphocytes were transformed into immunoglobulin-secreting cells by infection with Epstein-Barr virus and the culture fluids were tested for reactivity with self-antigens, at least two important autoantibodies, antibody to the Fc fragment of human immunoglobulin G (rheumatoid factor) and antibody to single-stranded DNA, were found to be made exclusively by Leu-1+ B cells. It is concluded that the Leu-1+ lymphocytes represent a major subset of the normal human B cell repertoire and include the B cells capable of making autoantibodies similar to those found in systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis.
D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000276:immunology*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification* / Q000276:immunology; D002469:Cell Separation; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded / Q000276:immunology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007072:Immunoglobulin D / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007141:Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid / Q000276:immunology
D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D001323:Autoantibodies; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007072:Immunoglobulin D; D007141:Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor