title: Cloning of B cells from autoimmune MRL-lpr/lpr and MRL.xid mice.
abstract: The relationship between colony formation (cloning) of B cells and their activation in murine autoimmunity was investigated in MRL-lpr/lpr and MRL.xid mice. Cells from MRL-lpr/lpr mice showed similar requirements for in vitro growth as normal CBA/J and BALB/c cells, with maximal colony formation in the presence of the supporting factors lipopolysaccharide and sheep red blood cells. The frequency of colony-forming cells from MRL-lpr/lpr spleens or hapten-specific B-cell preparations was slightly greater than the two normal control strains, with this difference significant only for a comparison of BALB/c and MRL-lpr/lpr spleens. In contrast, MRL-lpr/lpr mice bearing the xid gene for B-cell immunodeficiency (MRL.xid) had markedly reduced B-cell colony formation. These mice nevertheless expressed anti-DNA antibodies, although at levels reduced from that of MRL-lpr/lpr controls. These results indicate that enhanced in vitro colony formation need not accompany B-cell hyperactivity in murine autoimmune disease and that autoantibody production can occur in mice with impairment in this growth property.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D002999:Clone Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D003114:Colony-Forming Units Assay; D005260:Female; D007153:Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains / Q000276:immunology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology