title: Structured reactions of serum IgM repertoires to immunization are dependent on major histocompatibility complex genes.
abstract: In normal animals, responses to immunization include alterations in the serum IgM antibody repertoire, as scored on autologous tissue antigens with no respect for the immunizing antigen. These immunogen-nonspecific antibody reactions were found previously to display specific structures dependent on strain and immunization protocols. Using major histocompatability complex (MHC)-congenic Lewis rats, we show that such IgM repertoire reactions are under the control of MHC-linked genes, including a class I locus. This strongly suggests the involvement of T cells restricted by both class I and class II MHC, in regulating serum IgM repertoires. Immunogen-nonspecific repertoire reactions to immunization may, therefore, represent degenerate, but prototypical, reactions or regulatory mechanisms embodying the natural repertoires of T- and B cells connected to autoantigens. Natural (auto)immunity could so serve to regulate the effector class of adaptive immune responses, particularly in order to avoid pathogenic autoreactivity following specific immunization with self-cross-reacting antigens. Appropriate analysis of nonspecific repertoire reactions could therefore contribute to the understanding of general structures of immune regulation and natural tolerance.
authors: Unité d'Immunobiologie, CNRS URA 1961, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Fesel
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Coutinho
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020296:Animals, Congenic; D000941:Antigens; D015551:Autoimmunity; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005620:Freund's Adjuvant; D005805:Genes, MHC Class I; D005802:Genes, MHC Class II; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007114:Immunization; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood*; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein / Q000276:immunology; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D017634:Self Tolerance; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein; D005620:Freund's Adjuvant; D001616:beta-Galactosidase