Proliferation of anti-DNA-producing NZB B cells in a non-autoimmune environment
Klinman, D.M.; Steinberg, A.D.
Journal of Immunology 137(1): 69-75
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-1767 PMID: 3486918 Document Number: 269117
This study demonstrates that purified NZB B cells, but not other NZB spleen cell populations, are capable of transferring anti-DNA antibody production into unirradiated H-2-compatible xid recipients. The number of autoantibody-producing B cells and the concentration of anti-DNA antibody found in the recipients correlated directly with the number of NZB B cells transferred. In addition, the number of anti-DNA-secreting lymphocytes found in the xid hosts increased exponentially with time post cell transfer. Several lines of evidence suggest that this phenomenon reflected the rapid proliferation of donor NZB B cells in the xid environment. Significantly, such proliferation was characteristic of donor cells that produced autoantibodies, but not of splenic B cells as a whole. These results suggest that stimulated NZB B cells can both induce and perpetuate autoantibody production in a normally non-autoimmune environment and in the absence of autoimmune helper cells.