Antigen receptor cross-linking by anti-immunoglobulin antibodies coupled to cell surface membrane induces rapid apoptosis of normal spleen B cells.
Cross-linking of surface immunoglobulin (sIg) has been shown to induce either activation or apoptosis of mature B cells presumably depending on the nature of antigens. However, the nature of antigens for induction of mature B-cell apoptosis is not yet fully understood. We cross-linked sIg of mature B cells with various amounts of either anti-Ig antibodies in the soluble form or anti-Ig coupled to erythrocytes or myeloma cells as surrogate membrane-bound antigens. Anti-Ig antibodies coupled to cell surface membrane induced rapid and extensive apoptosis of normal spleen B cells even in the absence of signalling via the Fc receptor. In contrast, soluble anti-Ig induced proliferation or apoptosis of mature B cells depending on the concentration of anti-Ig. The extent of apoptosis induced by soluble anti-Ig was limited compared to that induced by membrane-bound anti-Ig. These results suggest that mature B cells undergo apoptosis or proliferation depending on whether antigens are soluble or membrane-bound and on antigen doses.
Watanabe
N
N
Department of Medical Chemistry, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan.
Nomura
T
T
Takai
T
T
Chiba
T
T
Honjo
T
T
Tsubata
T
T
D000818:Animals; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000276:immunology*; D017209:Apoptosis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D019013:CD40 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D002455:Cell Division; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / Q000276:immunology*; D017452:Receptors, IgG / Q000276:immunology*; D012995:Solubility; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D013997:Time Factors
D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D019013:CD40 Antigens; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell; D017452:Receptors, IgG