title: B-cell tolerance to the B-cell receptor variable regions.
abstract: An enormous number of B cells with different B-cell receptors (BCRs) are continuously produced in the bone marrow. BCRs are further diversified during the germinal center reaction. Due to extensive recirculation, B cells with mutually binding BCR are likely to meet in lymphoid organs. We have addressed possible outcomes of such an encounter in vitro. B lymphoma cells were transfected with complementary BCR, one transfectant expressing an Idiotype⁺ (Id⁺) BCR and the other an anti-Id BCR. To exclude confounding effects of secreted Ig, the transfected B lymphoma cells only expressed membrane IgD. Coincubation of paired Id⁺/anti-Id lymphoma cells results in conjugate formation, signaling, activation of Caspase 3/7, and apoptosis of at least one of the two cells in the pair. Our data provide suggestive evidence for a mechanism whereby the B-cell compartment is partly purged of B cells with complementary BCRs.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Immune Regulation, Institute of Immunology, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Johanne T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Jacobsen
authors.forename: Vibeke
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sundvold-Gjerstad
authors.forename: Frode M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Skjeldal
authors.forename: Jan-Terje
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: Greger
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Abrahamsen
authors.forename: Oddmund
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bakke
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spurkland
authors.forename: Bjarne
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bogen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000276:immunology; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D053179:Caspase 7 / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007072:Immunoglobulin D / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000235:genetics; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / Q000276:immunology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology; D019076:Transgenes / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D007072:Immunoglobulin D; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell; D053148:Caspase 3; D053179:Caspase 7
keywords: Apoptosis; B-cell receptor (BCR); Idiotypes; Tolerance