title: Proliferation of anti-DNA-producing NZB B cells in a non-autoimmune environment.
abstract: This study demonstrates that purified NZB B cells, but not other NZB spleen cell populations, are capable of transferring anti-DNA antibody production into unirradiated H-2-compatible xid recipients. The number of autoantibody-producing B cells and the concentration of anti-DNA antibody found in the recipients correlated directly with the number of NZB B cells transferred. In addition, the number of anti-DNA-secreting lymphocytes found in the xid hosts increased exponentially with time post cell transfer. Several lines of evidence suggest that this phenomenon reflected the rapid proliferation of donor NZB B cells in the xid environment. Significantly, such proliferation was characteristic of donor cells that produced autoantibodies, but not of splenic B cells as a whole. These results suggest that stimulated NZB B cells can both induce and perpetuate autoantibody production in a normally non-autoimmune environment and in the absence of autoimmune helper cells.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002469:Cell Separation; D004247:DNA / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D008814:Mice, Inbred NZB; D013154:Spleen; D014301:Trinitrobenzenes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D014301:Trinitrobenzenes; D004247:DNA