Genetic analysis of low lambda 1 chain production in mice
Ju, S.T.; Selsing, E.; Huang, M.C.; Kelly, K.; Dorf, M.E.
Journal of Immunology 136(7): 2684-2688
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-1767 PMID: 3081650 Document Number: 285214
Several commonly used strains of laboratory mice from Charles River Laboratories were found to produce extremely low or undetectable levels of serum immunoglobulins bearing .lambda.1 light chain (.lambda.1 Ig). Individual CF-1, CD-1, and CFW random-bred mice were tested for serum .lambda.1 levels, .lambda.1-specific anti-NP responses, and genomic polymorphisms at the .lambda.1 locus. In all cases, a complete correlation among these parameters was observed. The results indicated that nearly all CFW, > 70% of CD-1 but none of the CF-1 mice produced low levels of .lambda.1 light chain. The low .lambda.1 Ig production is due to a genetic defect either similar or identical to that observed in SJL mice. The data suggest that the .lambda.l locus of CD-1 CFW, and SJL mice are derived from a common ancester. We also surveyed .lambda.l Ig production in a series of wild mice. Mice producing low .lambda.1 Ig were frequently observed. The wild mice with low .lambda.1 Ig levels were captured in diverse geographic areas, including Europe, Middle East, Asia, and South America. Preliminary study suggests that the defect in the wild mice is different from that of SJL, CD-1, or CFW mice and implies that other mechanisms regulate .lambda.1 Ig production in wild mice.