Unusual phenotype of B cells in the thymus of normal mice.

A small number of B cells are found in the thymus of normal mice. A population of B lymphocytes could be enriched to greater than 90% purity by isolating a low-density fraction on Percoll density gradients and then depleting T cells with a mixture of anti-Thy-1, CD4, and CD8 mAbs and complement. Enrichment was monitored by surface Ig staining and by functional studies (responsiveness to LPS, and to anti-mu plus IL-4). When the phenotype of these B cells was studied by flow cytometry, 60-80% had the phenotype Ly-1+ (CD5), Ia+, B220low (CD45R), and Mac-1+ (CD 11b). In contrast, splenic B cells lacked CD5 and CD11b and expressed higher levels of B220 and Ia antigens. These results indicate that most thymic B cells have the phenotype of the Ly-1 B cell subset, which was identified previously as a trace subpopulation in some peripheral tissues and is thought to play a role in autoantibody formation.

(NZW x BXSB)F1 mouse. A new animal model of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.

A decrease in thrombocyte count was observed in (NZW x BXSB)F1 (W/B F1) mice at the age of greater than 5 mo, whereas megakaryocyte counts were found to increase in such mice. FACS analyses revealed the presence of both platelet-associated antibodies (PAA) and circulating antiplatelet antibodies. There is a correlation between the presence of these antibodies and the degree of thrombocytopenia. The transplantation of normal bone marrow cells from BALB/c nu/nu mice to W/B F1 mice was found to have preventative and curative effects on thrombocytopenia; the mice showed normal platelet counts and no evidence of circulating antiplatelet antibodies. These results indicate that thrombocytopenia in W/B F1 mice is due to the presence of antibodies to platelets. We therefore think that W/B F1 mice serve as a useful animal model of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) not only for elucidating the mechanism of the development of antiplatelet antibodies, but also for characterizing autoantibodies to platelets.

Recognition of serum alkaline phosphatase by murine monoclonal antibodies against human osteosarcoma cells.

Using OST6 and OST7 monoclonal antibodies against human osteosarcoma cells, a solid-phase radioimmunosandwich assay was developed to quantitate a human osterosarcoma-associated antigen in a total of 242 sera from healthy adults and patients with various diseases. The levels of the antigen in sera were high in patients with osteosarcoma and in children without tumorous diseases compared with healthy adults; however, the highest level of the antigen was found in patients with obstructive jaundice. The quantity of the antigen correlated with serum alkaline phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.1.) activity, and showed a strong correlation (correlation coefficient, 0.94) in 50 sera. Immunolocalization of enzyme activity assay using monoclonal antibodies was performed to ascertain whether the antigen had alkaline phosphatase activity. This assay proved that OST6, OST7, and OST15 monoclonal antibodies recognized serum alkaline phosphatase; furthermore, these monoclonal antibodies seemed to react with not only the bone isoenzyme but also the liver isoenzyme.

Feedback regulation of antibody formation by suppressive B cell factor: preferential suppression of high-affinity antibody production by memory B lymphocytes.

Cloned TS4.44 cells, which were hybridized HAT-sensitive 3T3-4E cells with B cells stimulated by immune complexes produce a lymphokine, biochemical and biological characteristics of which are identical with those of conventional suppressive B cell factor (SBF) synthesized by Fc receptor bearing B cells stimulated with immune complexes. This factor is known to suppress B cell responses to antigen/mitogen. The present studies were carried out by using this hybridoma-derived SBF to characterize the large proportion of B cells sensitive to SBF and the small proportion of B cells resistant to it in terms of affinities of antibodies which these cells are able to produce. The treatment of normal spleen cells with SBF resulted in a 50-70% decrease in anti-dinitrophenyl (DNP) antibody production when the cells were transferred into X-ray-irradiated mice along with alum-precipitated dinitrophenyl-conjugated keyhole limpet hemocyanin (DNP-KLH). The affinity of anti-DNP antibody molecules produced in these mice was significantly lower than that of the controls, even if immunization was repeated. The target cells for SBF were B, and not helper T cells which might be involved in the process of affinity maturation. A single treatment of spleen cells in vitro with SBF was sufficient to abrogate the precursors committed to mediate high-affinity anti-DNP antibody responses, since the retreatment with SBF in vitro and transfer into the second irradiated recipients along with antigens of spleen cells of mice to which SBF-treated spleen cells were transferred 3 weeks before resulted in almost the same level of plaque-forming-cell-responses as in mice which received medium-treated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Suppressive B-cell factor (SBF) produced by FcR-bearing B cells; suppression of B, but not non-B-cell proliferation.

B cells that have receptors for the Fc portion of IgG (FcR gamma + B cell) elaborate an immunoregulatory lymphokine termed suppressive B-cell factor (SBF) after binding immune complexes, such as sheep erythrocytes sensitized with IgG anti-sheep erythrocyte antibody (EA). For producing SBF, de novo protein is required, but not DNA or DNA-dependent RNA synthesis. This mediator is released into the culture supernatant of FcR gamma + B cells during 6 to 48 hr after stimulation by EA. SBF suppresses the proliferation of B, but not non-B cells. Thus, it suppressed (i) plaque-forming cell responses in the induction phase in an antigen-non-specific manner, (ii) DNA synthesis of lipopolysaccharide-activated B cells, but neither concanavalin A nor phytohaemagglutinin-activated T cells, and (iii) the proliferation of B but not non-B tumour-cell lines by acting at the G1-S junction in the cell cycle. Concordance of H-2 haplotype between SBF-producing mice and target B cells is necessary for the suppression. Thus, the action of SBF is B-cell specific and antigen-non-specific. Immune complex-mediated negative feedback regulation seems to be operated by lymphokines such as SBF which may be also involved in the surveillance for B-cell tumours.

Monoclonal SBF produced by a hybridoma: in-vitro and in-vivo suppression of B tumour-cell proliferation.

A suppressive B-cell factor (SBF)-producing hybridoma termed TS-4.44 was established by fusion of B cells which possessed receptors for the Fc portion of IgG (FcR gamma + B cells) and thymidine kinase defective fibroblasts, 3T3-4E cells. The biological properties of hybridoma-produced SBF (Hyb-SBF) are almost the same as those of conventionally prepared SBF (Conv-SBF). Hyb-SBF suppresses (i) plaque-forming cell (PFC) responses in an antigen non-specific manner, (ii) DNA synthesis of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated B cells, but neither concanavalin A (Con A) nor phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-induced activation of T cells, and (iii) the proliferation of B, but not non-B tumour cells. Once absorbed with L-1210 cells, Hyb-SBF failed to inhibit both PFC and LPS responses. It is important is that Hyb-SBF suppresses the proliferation of L-1210 cells not only in vitro, but also in vivo. The physicochemical properties of Hyb-SBF such as sensitivity to trypsin, pronase and neuraminidase and its molecular weight (43,000), as judged by gel filtration and sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) are in accord with those of Conv-SBF. Moreover, it is eluted from a DEAE cellulose column with 0.1-0.3 M phosphate buffer. Thus, monoclonal SBF is thought to be identical with Conv-SBF and could provide us with sufficient material for the analysis of FcR-dependent immunoregulation including surveillance mechanisms controlling the proliferation of B tumour cells.

Immunological characterization of FcR gamma bearing and nonbearing B cells: functional modulation of immune complexes.

By the 1g sedimentation method using discontinuous gradients of Ficoll solution (concentrations of 6 to 14%), keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH)-primed spleen cells of C3H/He or DBA/2 mice were fractionated into 4 to 10 populations after IgG antibody-coated erythrocytes (EA gamma) rosetting and then treatment with anti-Thy-1.2 + complement (C). No significant difference was observed in the distribution of isotype specificities of surface immunoglobulins on B cells in each population thus fractionated, when determined by indirect immunofluorescence staining. The mixture of the 12 and 14% Ficoll fractions contained 95% of B cells bearing Fc receptor for IgG (FcR+ gamma) and 3.58% of antigen-binding cells (ABC) for KLH, while the 8% Ficoll fraction included 15% of FcR+ gamma B cells and 1.53% of ABC. Nevertheless, the FcR- gamma B-cell-enriched populations caused intensive plaque-forming cell (PFC) responses to dinitrophenol (DNP), whereas FcR+ gamma B-cell-enriched populations generated weak responses. Noteworthy is that 4 days preculture of a population containing 95% FcR+ gamma B cells resulted in the appearance of precursor activity which was ascertained by a further 4 days culture of these cells with antigen, DNP-dextran. These findings suggest that FcR gamma bearing B cells intrinsically possess precursor activity for IgM/IgG antibody-forming cells, but lose it transiently by binding immune complexes (IC). Moreover, the titer of a factor suppressing anti-DNP PFC responses (suppressive B-cell factor, SBF) was higher in the 24-hr culture supernatants of the FcR+ gamma B-cell-enriched fraction than of the FcR- gamma B-cell-enriched fraction, suggesting that SBF is produced by FcR+ gamma B cells themselves. Thus, IC seems to play an important role for the negative feedback regulation of antibody production by stimulating FcR gamma bearing B cells.

Feedback regulation of immune responses by immune complexes; possible involvement of a suppressive lymphokine by FcR gamma-bearing B cell.

Inoculations of antigen-antibody complexes (immune complexes) with the intact Fc portion generates suppressor cells in vivo by binding to FcR gamma on B cells via Fc portions. The cell type responsible for the suppression appears to be B cells bearing FcR gamma. Neither T cells nor macrophages participate in both the inductive and effective phases of this type of regulation. The suppression caused by splenic B cells, previously stimulated with immune complexes in vivo, is mediated by humoral factor(s) released from them. The suppressive factor(s) have H-2 gene product(s) coded by the right-hand side of the H-2 gene complex, but not for FcR gamma themselves or immunoglobulins. It has shared component(s) with suppressive B cell factor (SBF) released from FcR gamma + B cells stimulated with immune complexes in vitro, and it resembles SBF in its mode of action. These findings indicate that immune complexes, the final products of antibody responses, control the immune responses by stimulating surface FcR gamma on B cells. It is of interest that this type of regulation functions in vivo.

Immunological properties of Fc receptor on lymphocytes. 9. Functional analysis of FcR gamma+ and FcR gamma- lymphocytes in IgE antibody responses.

The present study was undertaken to clarify the function of FcR gamma+ and FcR gamma- lymphocytes in anti-DNP IgE antibody responses. The helper activity was observed predominantly in FcR gamma- T cells, but poorly in FcR gamma+ T cells, as in the case of IgG antibody responses, indicating that the absence of FcR gamma on T cell surface is a common surface characteristic to helper T cells, and that there is no close relationship between the determination of class specificity of Ig and T cell subsets divided by the presence or absence of FcR gamma. Furthermore, IgE antibody responses were more dependent upon helper T cells than IgG antibody responses. The data presented in this paper also demonstrated that the precursors of anti-DNP IgE antibody-forming cells were equally contained in both FcR gamma+ and FcR gamma- B cells, when they were transferred into recipients with helper T cells. This is a striking contrast to IgM/IgG antibody responses, in which only FcR gamma- B cells could differentiate into antibody-forming cells. Moreover, the precursor activity of FcR gamma+ and FcR gamma- B cells for IgE antibody-forming cells was not affected by the treatment of cells with suppressive B cell factor released from FcR gamma+ B cells after binding of antigen-antibody (IgG) complexes and known to suppress the proliferation of FcR gamma- IgM/IgG antibody-forming cell precursors. Thus, IgE B cells seem to be more heterogeneous than IgM/IgG B cells with respect to the FcR gamma marker and insensitive to the regulatory effect of FcR gamma+ B cells. IgE B cells are regulated differently from IgG B cells in B-B cell interactions.

Migration and differentiation of bone marrow lymphocytes: development of surface immunoglobulin, Fc receptor, complement receptor, and functional responsiveness as studied with anti-allotype serum.

Immunofluorescent studies using fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated mouse anti-allotype antibody were carried out to study the migration pattern and the development of surface Ig (SIg), Fc receptor for IgG (FcR gamma), and complement receptor (CR) or mouse bone marrow lymphocytes following intravenous injection into congenic mice. After transfer of bone marrow cells from CSW mice into untreated congenic CWB mice, the absolute number of donor-type SIg-bearing (SIg+) cells and the proportion of either FcR gamma- or CR-bearing (FcR gamma+ or CR+) cells in donor-type SIg+ cells were evaluated in the recipient spleen and the results were compared with those obtained after the transfer of CSW spleen cells. After injection of donor bone marrow cells, detectable donor-type SIg+ cells, although few initially, increased from day 1 to Day 2 and reached a plateau thereafter. The proportion of FcR gamma+ cells in donor-type SIg+ cells, although very low in the donor marrow inoculum, increased progressively after 1 day to reach a maximum at Day 5 (90%). On the other hand, following the transfer of spleen cells, the proportion of FcR gamma+ cells remained at high levels (90%) for 5 days after transfer. Likewise, the proportion of CR+ cells in donor-type SIg+ cells was very low (less than 1%) in the original donor bone marrow cells but high (60%) in the donor spleen cells. However, in transferring bone marrow cells this proportion also increased in the recipient spleen to reach a maximum (49%) at Day 5 although it was lower compared to the percentage of FcR gamma+ cells in donor SIg+ cells. Furthermore, the ability of functional responsiveness to antigen was also examined in the same system by detecting plaque-forming cells (PFC) from donor origin. In transferring donor bone marrow cells into recipient, the participation of donor cells in the PFC response was very low when the recipients were primed with sheep red blood cells at Day 3 after transfer. However, when the recipients were primed at Days 7 to 21 after transfer, increasing numbers of the donor marrow-derived cells were involved in the PFC response. Thus, the present study demonstrates that the bone marrow-derived lymphocytes, albeit lacking both distinctive surface receptors (IgM, FcR gamma, CR) and the functional responsiveness to antigen, continue their development along the B-cell lineage after migrating into the spleen, as evidenced by the surface receptor expression and participation in the antibody response.

Migration of bone marrow lymphocytes in mice: immunofluorescent staining using antiallotype serum.

Bone marrow cells from CSW (Igha) mice were injected intravenously into the congeneic CWB (Ighb) mice. The lymphoid tissues of the recipient CWB mice were examined for donor type surface immunoglobulin (SIg)-positive cells using fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated antiallotype serum Ighb anti-Igha. Donor type SIg-positive cells were rarely found in the recipients immediately after injection. However, the donor type B cells increased in the recipient's spleen from days 1-2 and reached a plateau thereafter. The present method provides a useful means for studying the migration patterns and differentiation of bone marrow lymphocytes.

Isolation of murine pluripotent hemopoietic stem cells in the Go phase.

A method to purify pluripotent hemopoietic stem cells in the Go phase from mouse bone marrow was established. Bone marrow cells from 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-treated mice were fractionated by Percoll density gradient. The cells with density between 1.063 and 1.075 were further separated into wheat germ agglutinin (WGA)-positive and -negative cells using fluorescent-activated cell sorter (FACS) after staining with fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated WGA (FITC-WGA). An assay for spleen colony-forming units (CFU-S) revealed that the WGA-positive cells (1 X 10(6)) produced 1380 CFU-S (about 150 times of the number in the original bone marrow cells) on day 12 (but no CFU-S on day 8), whereas the WGA-negative cells produced no CFU-S. Thus, the stem cells in the Go phase are found to be enriched 150 times in 5-FU-treated WGA-positive cells.

Biochemical analysis of inhibitory effects of a lymphokine suppressive B-cell factor on the activation process of resting B cells.

Suppressive B-cell factor (SBF) is elaborated by FcR gamma (Fc receptor for IgG)-bearing small, resting B cells after the stimulation of immune complexes and is known to inhibit humoral immune responses by acting on resting B cells. In order to elucidate where and how SBF interferes with B-cell activation in the course of transmembrane signaling, we examined the effect of SBF on the several sequential events which B cells undergo after crosslinking surface immunoglobulin (sIg). Hyper-Ia expression, plasma membrane depolarization, and activation of phosphatidylinositol (PI) hydrolysis of resting B cells, all of which were induced by the stimulation with anti-mu antibody, were significantly suppressed by the pretreatment of cells with SBF. However, SBF had no effect on the intracytoplasmic cyclic AMP level of either activated or resting B cells. Another inhibitory effect of SBF on the activation process of resting B cells by anti-mu antibody was to suppress the transient elevation of intracytoplasmic free Ca2+ only in the initial phase after triggering with anti-mu antibody. This seems to be due to a decrease in the release of inositol triphosphate into the cytoplasm by suppressing the activation of PI hydrolysis. Considering all the data, the suppressive effect of SBF on the transmembrane signaling by sIg crosslinking is ascribed to the selective suppression of the activation of PI hydrolysis. This provides a concept on a molecular basis that feedback regulation of humoral immune response is, at least partly, regulated by SBF.

Inhibitory mechanism of the proliferative response of B lymphocytes: suppression of the proliferation induced by anti-mu antibody and BSF1 by immune complexes.

We studied the effect of immune complexes (IC) on the responses of polyclonally activated murine B cells. For this, normal resting B cells were stimulated with the F(ab')2 fraction of goat anti-mouse mu-chain antibody and B-cell stimulating factor 1 (BSF1) after preculturing them with IC. Next, the relative membrane potential changes and the subsequent proliferative response were analysed. IC, particularly in antibody excess, inhibited both membrane depolarization and while those in antigen excess did poorly. Neither antigen nor antibody alone was effective. Inhibition was mediated via binding of IC to FcR gamma on B cells in a dose-dependent manner. Kinetic experiments showed that at least 6 hr was necessary for inducing the suppression of B-cell responses after binding of IC. We conclude that IC bound to FcR gamma on B cells regulates B-cell responses by acting on the initial step of activation.

Ontogeny of 'macrophage' function. III. Manifestation of high accessory cell activity for primary antibody response by Ia+ functional cells in newborn mouse spleen in collaboration with Ia- macrophages.

The ontogenesis of the responsiveness of murine whole spleen cells in the in vitro primary antibody response paralleled not only the development of competent lymphoid cells but also that of the accessory cell (A-cell) activity of spleen adherent cells (SAC). The Ia+ cell content of SAC (and also peritoneal exudate cells) was very low until 2 weeks of age. The phagocytic activity of macrophages in SAC was higher in newborns than in adults, though no significant difference was observed between Ia- and Ia+ macrophages in phagocytic activity. We attempted to reveal a high A-cell activity using cells in newborn spleen by means of our experimental strategy documented previously in adult mice (Inaba, Nakano & Muramatsu, 1981): though neither Ia- macrophage population (Ia- SAC) nor a temporarily adherent spleen cell population containing few phagocytic macrophages (crude non-macrophage cell fraction, CF) serves as an autonomous A-cell source, the collaboration of Ia+ non-macrophage cells in CF with Ia- SAC causes the manifestation of A-cell activity. Adult CF collaborated as well with newborn SAC as with adult Ia- SAC, indicating that newborn Ia- macrophages are functionally comparable with adult Ia- macrophages in the ability to collaborate with Ia+ non-macrophage cells. On the other hand, a high A-cell activity was generated by the combination of adult Ia- SAC with a large number of newborn CF cells, indicating that there exist competent Ia+ cells in newborn spleen, though much fewer than in adult spleen.

Comparative studies on FcR (FcRII, FcRIII, and FcR alpha) functions of murine B cells.

Distribution of FcR II, FcRIII, and FcR alpha on murine splenic B cells was examined by using FITC-labeled heat-aggregated IgG of each subclass and IgA. Almost 60 to 80% of B cells expressed both FcRII and FcRIII. However, FcR alpha was expressed on only a small proportion (6%) of B cells that co-expressed FcRII. By inhibition assays with the use of cold IgG of each subclass and IgA in addition to anti-FcRII mAb (2.4G2), it was found that IgG1, IgG2a, and IgG2b utilized the same receptor (FcRII), whereas IgG3 and IgA bound only to their unique receptors, FcRIII and FcR alpha, respectively. Immune complexes IC prepared by IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b, and IgA anti-TNP mAb with TNP-coupled SRBC inhibited the polyclonal Ig secretion and proliferative responses of B cells stimulated with either IL-4 or LPS. The inhibition of B cell activation was associated with the blockade of the membrane depolarization. Moreover, IC prepared by these antibodies caused production of suppressive B cell factor (SBF) as is the case with rabbit IgG antibody to SRBC, and SBF thus prepared regulated antibody responses in an isotype-nonspecific manner. In contrast, no inhibition for these responses or production of SBF was attained by the IC of IgG3 antibody. We concluded that FcRII and FcR alpha mediates a suppressive signal for B cells by acting on the initial step of activation, whereas FcRIII lacks this activity.

A novel lymphokine derived from human IgG Fc receptor-bearing B cells: its suppressive effect on activated T and B lymphocytes including tumour cells in vitro.

Peripheral blood FcR gamma-bearing human B cells, but neither T cells nor adherent cells, produce an immunoregulatory lymphokine after receiving the stimulation of FcR gamma by immune complexes--antibody-sensitized erythrocytes (EA). This factor suppresses polyclonal immunoglobulin (Ig) production of B cells to pokeweed mitogen (PWM) and Nocardia opaca delipidated cell mitogen (NDCM), indicating that not only B cells, but also T cells are targets for this factor. It also inhibits the proliferation of mitogen-activated mononuclear and T and B tumour cells in vitro. The inhibitory effect on tumour cell growth is cytostatic, but not cytotoxic as in the case of lymphotoxin (LT). All these suppressive effects are observed in a HLA-non-restricted manner. Irradiation (2000 rads) of FcR gamma + B cells does not inhibit the production of this suppressive factor, implying that DNA synthesis is unnecessary. Nonstimulated FcR gamma + B cells retain the precursor activity for Ig-forming cells, since mononuclear cells untreated with EA respond to the mitogens, resulting in Ig production. However, it is worthy to note that they lose the activity when stimulated with immune complexes. Thus, the property obtained from human FcR gamma + B cells is similar to, but distinct from, a murine suppressive B-cell factor (SBF) prepared by the same procedure as for the human factor. Nevertheless, the observation in the present studies on the human analogue to murine SBF suggests that this factor, tentatively termed human SBF, appears to be a novel lymphokine which is different from any other factors, including LT, and that FcR-bearing B cells play an important role in the immunoregulatory mechanism in humans, as in the case of mice.

Inhibitory mechanism of the proliferative responses of resting B cells: feedback regulation by a lymphokine (suppressive B-cell factor) produced by Fc receptor-stimulated B cells.

We investigated the effect of a lymphokine termed 'suppressive B-cell factor' (SBF), which is produced by FcR gamma (Fc receptor for IgG)-stimulated B cells or hybridoma TS4.44, and is known to suppress B-cell responses in vivo and in vitro by inhibiting their proliferation. Small B cells, fractionated by Percoll density gradient, from athymic nude mice (BALB/c) secreted SBF after binding EA (sheep erythrocytes sensitized with IgG mouse anti-sheep erythrocyte antibody), and the proliferation of small but not large B cells was preferentially suppressed by SBF in response to LPS in vitro. Proliferation of purified B cells from BALB/c nu/nu mice, induced by a synergistic interaction between F(ab')2 fragment of goat anti-mouse IgM antibody and B-cell stimulating factor (BSF1), was almost completely abrogated by the co-existence of SBF during the 72-hr culture period. However, the co-culture with SBF for the last 24 or 48 hr, as well as of B cells pretreated with SBF for 1 hr at 37 degrees, partially inhibited the growth response. These findings suggest that SBF operates on resting B cells and holds them in a resting state. This notion would be further supported by the fact that SBF inhibited G0-G1 transition. Taken together, we conclude that SBF acts on the early step of B-cell activation, thereby inhibiting B-cell growth. Arrest of resting B cells in the G0 phase and failure of an increase in functional receptors for BSF1 seem to be responsible for the suppression of B-cell responses.