title: Differential proliferative responses of B cells from BALB/c and autoimmune NZB mice to B-cell growth factor(s).
abstract: Highly purified B cells from NZB mice have altered responses to various stimuli which require additional costimulatory signals supplied by factors present in EL-4 supernatants when compared to age-matched control nonautoimmune strains. Both crude preparations of EL-4 supernatants as well as partially purified BSF-p1 induced peak proliferation in B cells from normal strains of mice only in the presence of another stimulatory signal, anti-mu. In contrast, B cells from autoimmune-prone NZB mice proliferated in response to B-cell growth factors, with an age-dependent variation. Splenic B cells from 16- to 22-week-old NZB mice, an age where pronounced autoimmune disease is not observed, demonstrated a near maximum proliferative response with B-cell growth factors alone. While normal B cells responded maximally to BSF-p1 in the presence of anti-mu, B cells from young adult NZB mice (16-22 weeks of age) were not further stimulated to proliferate upon the addition of anti-mu. Such NZB B cells appeared to lack the requirement for a stimulation signal delivered by anti-mu in order to respond to B-cell growth factors. These results suggested that NZB cells were partially activated in vivo in the preautoimmune state so that subliminal triggers lead to full activation.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002453:Cell Cycle; D005260:Female; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000276:immunology*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000276:immunology; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007700:Kinetics; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C / Q000276:immunology*; D008814:Mice, Inbred NZB / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D006133:Growth Substances; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D008222:Lymphokines; D015847:Interleukin-4