title: Distribution of anti-histone-antibody-secreting cells in NZB/NZW mice.
abstract: Using a histone-specific plaque assay, we examined anti-histone-antibody (AHA) production at the organ level in the autoimmune NZB/NZW strain. The spleen had the highest absolute numbers of AHA-secreting cells. High percentages of immunoglobulin-secreting cells producing AHA were characteristic of spleen and bone marrow but not lymph node. AHA-secreting cells were detected in NZB/NZW mice with elevated serum activity but not in mice with normal serum levels. Serum AHA activity correlated with the number of AHA-secreting cells in the spleen but not with the total number of immunoglobulin-secreting cells in the spleen nor with the total serum immunoglobulin level. These findings concerning the organ distribution of AHA-secreting cells contrast with results of other investigators studying autoantibodies of other specificities. Furthermore, our results suggest that AHA production does not solely result from a generalized increase in total immunoglobulin synthesis present in NZB/NZW mice.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000921:Antibody-Producing Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000276:immunology; D006462:Hemolytic Plaque Technique; D006657:Histones / Q000276:immunology*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008814:Mice, Inbred NZB / Q000276:immunology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D006657:Histones