Autoantibodies to phosphatidylcholine. The murine antibromelain RBC response.

The observation that murine B-cell populations can contain relatively large numbers of cells that produce IgM with the ability to lyse bromelain-treated mouse erythrocytes (BrMRBC), but not normal untreated MRBC, was made nearly 20 years ago. The major observations regarding the antigen specificity, the cells that produce this IgM, and the immunoglobulin V genes that encode them are summarized in this report. The epitope on BrMRBC that is recognized has been identified as the head group of phosphatidylcholine (PtC); B cells whose IgM has this specificity can be easily identified by their ability to bind fluorescent synthetic liposomes whose membrane contains PtC. The cells producing IgM specific for PtC all derive from the Ly-1 B-cell subset, and they use primarily two VH/VL gene pairs to encode the anti-PtC antibodies. The VH genes used describe two new VH gene families, VH11 and VH12. The genes encoding anti-PtC are unmutated and have characteristics and restricted VDJ constructions. The cells with this specificity, within individual mice, are polyclonal. These criteria are consistent with a primary antigen-driven clonal selection mechanism as the basis for the development of this immune specificity.

Biased immunoglobulin variable region gene expression by Ly-1 B cells due to clonal selection.

Most, if not all, autoantibodies specific for bromelain-treated mouse erythrocytes recognize the common membrane phospholipid, phosphatidyl choline (PtC). Anti-PtC antibodies are produced by 5%-15% of CD5+ Ly-1 B cells of normal unimmunized mice, but not by detectable numbers of conventional CD5- B cells. At 1 week of age PtC-specific B cells are undetectable but then increase dramatically over the next 3 to 4 weeks to reach adult numbers. We report here that PtC-specific Ly-1 B cells in B10.H-2aH-4bp/Wts mice predominantly express either of two heavy and kappa chain variable (V) region gene combinations. In addition, the sequence and length of DH genes are conserved among cells expressing the same V gene combination, and the V kappa-J kappa junctions of one group involve unusual splice sites. Preferential V gene rearrangement models are insufficient to explain the DH and V kappa-J kappa junctional sequences or the delayed appearance of this specificity, and so they cannot solely account for the high frequency of PtC-specific cells. These characteristics are more consistent with antigen selection. We therefore attribute the frequent use of the two V region gene combinations to selection for cells that express them and conclude that the expressed V gene repertoire of Ly-1 B cells in adult mice is influenced by antigen selection. Apparently, there is no selection for mutant anti-PtC antibodies of higher affinity during the formation of the Ly-1 B repertoire because the V region genes expressed by PtC-specific cells are unmutated. Our findings are consistent with an important, germ line-encoded function for the immunoglobulin products of these gene combinations.

Restricted immunoglobulin variable region gene usage by normal Ly-1 (CD5+) B cells that recognize phosphatidyl choline.

5-15% of lymphocytes in the peritoneums of normal adult B10.H-2aH-4bp/Wts (2a4b) mice are CD5+ (Ly-1) B cells that recognize phosphatidyl choline (PtC), a phospholipid component of all mammalian cells. We produced a set of IgM-secreting hybridomas from the peritoneal cells of normal, adult 2a4b mice. We found that this set of hybridomas shows a similarly high frequency of antibodies specific for PtC (21 of 86) that also react with bromelain-treated mouse erythrocytes. Restriction fragment analysis of Ig gene rearrangements and analysis of expressed Ig idiotypes reveal that these cells use a restricted set of variable region genes to generate the PtC-specific antibodies. The Ig genes used by the PtC-specific hybridomas appear to be the same as those found in the PtC-specific Ly-1 B cell lymphomas, CH27 and CH34.

Cyclosporine inhibition of a murine B cell lymphoma.

The effect of cyclosporine (CsA) on the CH12 murine B cell lymphoma was investigated to determine whether sensitivity to this agent is retained by malignant B cells. This tumour produces an antibody to bromelain-treated red blood cells and may represent transformation of a B cell with certain activation properties associated with early resting B cells. In in vitro cultures, the growth and proliferation of CH12 were inhibited by CsA in concentrations of 0.1-1.0 microgram/ml; these levels were ineffective against non-lymphoid tumours, although some non-specific cell toxicity was noted at higher levels. IgM antibody production, as measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), was inhibited over the same range. CH12 cells stimulated by lipopolysaccharide, however, were less sensitive to CsA than untreated cells. These studies indicate that malignant B cells may be sensitive to CsA, perhaps reflecting their derivation from a functionally distinct B cell population with enhanced drug sensitivity.

Phosphatidyl choline is recognized by a series of Ly-1+ murine B cell lymphomas specific for erythrocyte membranes.

Cells from 6 of 14 different Ly-1+ murine B cell lymphomas bound to synthetic liposomes encapsulating fluorescein. The liposomes were made from distearoyl phosphatidyl choline (DSPC), distearoyl phosphatidyl glycerol (DSPG), and cholesterol. In all cases, liposome binding was due to recognition of phosphatidyl choline by the surface IgM on the tumor cells. Liposome binding could be inhibited by DSPC but not by DSPG, and the number of liposomes bound per cell was directly related to the cell surface concentration of IgM. The IgM secreted by a hybridoma derived from one of the lymphomas, CH12, was shown to agglutinate liposomes, and was used in a solid-phase immunoassay to study inhibition of liposome binding by pure phospholipids; DSPC and sphingomyelin both inhibited, whereas DSPG did not. The Ig borne by the six lymphomas that bind phosphatidylcholine also bind to both SRBC and bromelain-treated mouse erythrocytes. The idiotypic of CH12 IgM is similar to that expressed by Ly-1+ normal splenic B cells of the same specificity. The significance of these data in relation to other commonly studied autoantigens, and to the restricted specificity of normal Ly-1+ B cells is discussed.

Cross-reactive idiotypes and common antigen binding specificities expressed by a series of murine B-cell lymphomas: etiological implications.

A series of 27 B-cell lymphomas (designated the CH series), induced in B10.H-2aH-4b p/Wts mice by intense adoptive immunization with sheep erythrocytes, was found to represent a subset of the total B-cell repertoire. This subset was characterized by expression of a limited number of Ig heavy chain variable regions, as evidenced by the presence of cross-reactive idiotypes and common antigen binding specificities. Twenty-one of the 27 CH lymphomas studied were classified into five groups, defined by a particular cross-reactive idiotype; four of these groups were linked in a single network. Seven of 16 idiotypes defined by absorption analysis were present on lymphomas bearing either kappa or lambda light chains and so were localized to the heavy chain variable region. The surface Ig on 14 CH lymphomas was found to be specific for epitopes on certain erythrocytes (bromelain-treated autologous erythrocytes, sheep, and chicken erythrocytes) or E. coli. We propose that the CH lymphomas represent the malignant counterparts of a subset of idiotypically related, normal B cells in B10.H-2aH-4b p/Wts mice. Perturbation of this idiotype network, by hyperimmunization with an antigen for which some of the members are specific (sheep erythrocytes), increases the risk for neoplasia. Possible mechanisms for this are discussed.

H-2 control of expression of an idiotype shared by normal B cells and a B-cell lymphoma.

The spleens of normal B10.H-2aH-4bp/Wts (2a4b) mice contain cells which, in response to mitogen stimulation, secrete hemolytic antibody specific for a determinant present on both sheep and bromelain-treated mouse erythrocytes. These cells were found to be Ly-1 positive. Approximately 50% of these cells bear surface immunoglobulin (sIg) with the same idiotype as the sIg of a 2a4b-derived B-cell lymphoma, CH12. Backcross analysis revealed H-2 control of the frequency of the idiotype-positive B cell. The regulatory gene did not correlate with the Igh-1 allotype, and analysis of 22 inbred mouse strains mapped the gene to the I-E subregion. Surprisingly, only strains homozygous for Ek alpha expressed the idiotype, and expression was a recessive trait. Possible mechanisms for this control of idiotype expression and its relation to lymphomagenesis are discussed.

Induced differentiation of a B cell lymphoma with known antigen specificity.

We have previously described a murine B-cell lymphoma, CH12, the cells of which bear surface IgM reactive with sheep erythrocytes (SRbc) and which could differentiate to secrete hemolytic antibody. The question addressed in this paper was whether differentiation of CH12 cells could be influenced by interaction with regulatory T cells and antigen. If so, we wanted to know whether the conditions required differed from those known to govern similar interactions with normal B cells. We had two reasons for wanting to answer these questions. First, we wondered whether CH12 could be used as a clonal population of indicator cells to study the regulation of B cell differentiation and, second, we wanted to know the extent to which these neoplastic cells were still responsive to normal regulatory signals. The first addresses a major difficulty which must be faced in studies of normal B cell differentiation: to what extent is the interpretation limited by heterogeneity of the B cells used? The second relates to the nature of neoplasia and the possibility that neoplastic cells might be rendered harmless by inducing terminal differentiation. CH12 is one of a series of transplantable B cell lymphomas which arose in B10.H-2aH-4b p/Wts (2a4b) mice, following intense immunization with SRbc. It is a monoclonal tumor, all the cells of which bear membrane IgM(kappa) of a single idiotype, reactive with sheep and chicken Rbc and with bromelain-treated autologous mouse Rbc. The cells express KkAkEk and Dd antigens appropriate to the H-2a haplotype. During the latter stages of growth in vivo or in vitro, a small proportion (less than 3%) of the cells differentiate to secrete hemolytic antibody as measured by the Cunningham assay for plaque forming cells (PFC). We cultured CH12 cells for 3 or 4 days, together with antigen and spleen cells from primed animals, and assayed for PFC induction. Differentiation was induced by spleen cells from SRbc primed 2a4b mice in the presence of SRbc or ChRbc but not rabbit or human erythrocytes. Activity was depleted by treatment of the spleen cells with anti-Thy-1 or anti-Lyt-1 but not anti-Lyt-2 plus complement. Helper cells could also be induced by priming 2a4b mice with ChRbc but not rabbit or human Rbc. Neither of these last two would induce differentiation of CH12, even when both homologous antigen and SRbc were present in the cultures.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)