Regulation of the development of plaque-forming cells to bromelain-treated syngeneic mouse erythrocytes in bone marrow cell cultures.
The development of plaque-forming cells (PFC) to bromelain-treated syngeneic mouse red blood cells (Br-MRBC) was studied in bone marrow cell (BMC) cultures. It was found that the number of marrow PFC to Br-MRBC does not show the typical spontaneous increase observed in spleen cell (SPC), or peritoneal cell (PC) cultures. The number of anti-Br-MRBC PFC was markedly increased by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), even in conditions in which cell proliferation was blocked by mitomycin C, suggesting the presence of high numbers of Br-MRBC-specific precursor cells, potentially capable of differentiating into autoantibody-producing cells, in the marrow. Moreover, the low levels of anti-Br-MRBC PFC were further reduced in the presence of concanavalin A (Con A). The addition of Con A-activated BMC to BMC, SPC, or PC cultures actively suppressed the development of anti-Br-MRBC PFC. Con A-activated BM suppressor cells were found to be Thy 1.2-negative, Ig-negative, nonadherent cells. A possible role for the BM suppressor cell in tolerance to self antigens is discussed.
D000818:Animals; D000921:Antibody-Producing Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000473:pathology; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells; D001963:Bromelains / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006462:Hemolytic Plaque Technique; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D016685:Mitomycin; D008937:Mitomycins / Q000494:pharmacology; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology
D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008937:Mitomycins; D003208:Concanavalin A; D016685:Mitomycin; D001963:Bromelains