Mice completely suppressed for the expression of immunoglobulin kappa light chain.
Complete suppression of expression of immunoglobulin kappa light chain was achieved by injecting female mice from birth with a mixture of antisera against the mu heavy chain and kappa light chain (anti-mu and anti-kappa). Then their offspring were injected with anti-kappa from birth. This resulted in stable suppression as long as anti-kappa injections were continued. kappa light chain was not detectable either in serum or at the cellular level. The number of B cells in spleen and the concentration of immunoglobulin classes and subclasses in serum were normal. The normal levels were achieved by a compensating enhancement of lambda light chain expression. Analysis of the light chains of immunoglobulins secreted by spleen cells from suppressed mice after liposaccharide stimulation by two-dimensional gels showed lambda chain to have a limited heterogeneity. Primary responses to dinitrophenol, influenza strain A, and keyhole limpet hemocyanin were drastically affected, whereas secondary responses appeared to be quite normal, suggesting a surprisingly large potential repertoire.
D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D007106:Immune Sera; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000276:immunology; D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains / Q000235:genetics*; D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D007148:Immunoglobulin mu-Chains / Q000276:immunology; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C
D007106:Immune Sera; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains; D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains; D007148:Immunoglobulin mu-Chains