Cross-reactivity of IgM- and IgG-secreting B cells in autoimmune mice.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the frequency with which in vivo-activated B cells secrete cross-reactive antibodies in lupus-prone mice.


METHODS
Analysis of freshly isolated splenic lymphocytes by chamber enzyme-linked immunospot assay.


RESULTS
Young New Zealand black, New Zealand black x New Zealand white, and MRL/lpr mice expressed repertoires in which 16-20% of IgM-secreting cells and 0-2% of IgG-secreting cells were cross-reactive. By comparison, 21-31% of IgM- and 4-14% of IgG-secreting cells in adult animals with active lupus were cross-reactive (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Cross-reactive B cells constitute an abnormally large proportion of the repertoire expressed in mice with active autoimmune disease.
Ishigatsubo
Y
Y
First Department of Internal Medicine, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Japan.
Igarashi
T
T
Ohno
S
S
Ueda
A
A
Okubo
T
T
Klinman
D M
DM
D000818:Animals; D000921:Antibody-Producing Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D003429:Cross Reactions; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000378:metabolism*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000378:metabolism*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology; D008214:Lymphocytes; D051379:Mice; D008814:Mice, Inbred NZB
D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M