Endotoxin-induced auto-immunity in mice. II. Reactivity of LPS-hyporesponsive and C5-deficient animals.
Auto-antibody responses and circulating immune complex levels of mice with abnormal reactions to endotoxin were investigated after injection with the bacterial product. It was observed that C3H/HeJ mice displayed very high background plaque-forming cell responses towards bromelain-treated isologous erythrocytes which were slightly enhanced by endotoxin treatment. The same animals, however, did not bear autohaemolysins in their serum, but became so upon endotoxin injection. A possible relationship between the high background reactivity of C3H/HeJ mice and the low toxicity of endotoxin in these animals is discussed. Neither untreated nor lipopolysaccharide-injected C3H/HeJ mice showed significant immune complex levels in their sera. This may be explained by their hyporesponsiveness, but by a low sensitivity to the toxic effects of endotoxin as well. C5-deficient and C5-sufficient mice showed similar auto-immune reactions, indicating that C5a, which is responsible for other effects of endotoxin, is not involved in endotoxin-induced auto-immunity.
Bloembergen
P
P
Section of Experimental Immunology, Medical Faculty, State University of Utrecht, The Netherlands.
van Dijk
H
H
Hofhuis
F M
FM
van den Heiligenberg
P
P
Willers
J M
JM
D000818:Animals; D000921:Antibody-Producing Cells; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000276:immunology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D003182:Complement C5 / Q000172:deficiency; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology
D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D001323:Autoantibodies; D003182:Complement C5; D004731:Endotoxins