Impaired antibody responses in H-2Ab mice.
In murine in vivo systems, Ags administered in physiologic solutions together with specific IgE induce a significantly higher Ab response than Ags administered alone. In vitro, IgE in complex with Ag enhances B cell-mediated presentation of the Ag to T cells. Both phenomena require an intact low affinity receptor for IgE (Fc epsilon RII/CD23), suggesting that the effect on in vivo Ab responses is caused by increased Ag presentation. We here show that mice carrying the MHC class II Ab molecule (e.g., C57BL/6 and 129/Sv) do not produce Abs to BSA when immunized with BSA-2,4,6-trinitrophenyl (TNP) in complex with monoclonal IgE anti-TNP. In contrast, strains of all other MHC haplotypes tested (H-2d, H-2k, H-2p, H-2q, and H-2s) respond vigorously to IgE/BSA-TNP complexes, with Ab responses several hundred-fold higher than the responses in H-2b mice. C57BL/6 mice were unable to produce a carrier-specific response also after immunization with IgE/OVA-TNP, IgE/diphtheria toxoid-TNP, or IgE/tetanus toxoid-TNP. Although the low responsiveness mapped to the Ab region, responsiveness was not restored in C57BL/6 mice carrying transgenic Ak, suggesting that a nonclassical A-region-encoded gene product is involved. Most importantly, our data call attention to the fact that the C57BL/6 and 129 mouse strains, which are widely used for producing transgenic animals, have defective immune responses.
Gustavsson
S
S
Department of Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University Hospital, Sweden.
Hjulström-Chomez
S
S
Lidström
B M
BM
Ahlborg
N
N
Andersson
R
R
Heyman
B
B
D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000235:genetics*; D000941:Antigens / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D004338:Drug Combinations; D000939:Epitopes / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005620:Freund's Adjuvant / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008040:Genetic Linkage / Q000276:immunology; D006183:H-2 Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D010641:Phenotype; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014301:Trinitrobenzenes / Q000008:administration & dosage
D000941:Antigens; D004338:Drug Combinations; D000939:Epitopes; D006183:H-2 Antigens; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D014301:Trinitrobenzenes; C038601:trinitrophenyl-bovine serum albumin; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D005620:Freund's Adjuvant