The mechanisms underlying the X-linked thymus-independent (B) lymphocyte functional defect in the CBA/N (CN) mice and their F1 progeny were studied. Immune defective mice were unable to respond to the T-independent antigen 2,4-dinitrophenyl-lysyl-derivative of Ficoll (DNP-lys-Ficoll) but were able to form antibody against the highly cross-reactive hapten (trinitrophenyl) when it was coupled to an erythrocyte carrier. Immune defective CN X DBA/2N (DN) F1 male mice, which do not normally respond to T-independent antigens, were able to respond to both polyribosinic-polyribocytidylic acid and DNP-lys-Ficoll after the administration of CN X DN F1 female spleen cells even if these cells had been depleted of T lymphocytes. In addition, it was shown that the inability of the CN mice and their F1 progeny to respond to T-independent antigens was not due to an intrinsic abnormality of their microenvironment or the suppressive actions of a T lymphocyte. Our data present evidence that the X-linked defect in the CN mice is due to an intrinsic defect in B-lymphocyte development.

No abstract

Heterologous anti-delta-chain antibodies have an adjuvant effect on specific in vivo humoral immune responses to simultaneously, or subsequently, injected antigens in the rat and rhesus monkey. We have used a hybridoma-secreted antibody that binds murine delta-chain of the allotype (4.22aM delta a) to study this phenomenon in the mouse and to investigate the mechanism of this effect. Injection of 4.22aM delta a into BALB/c mice removes almost all surface IgD (sIgD) from splenic B lymphocites. sIgD does not reappear until the serum level of 4.22aM delta a decreased 5-7 d after injection. 4.22aM delta a fails to induce detectable proliferation or to raise total serum Ig levels substantially above control values. However, 4.22aM dalta a injected 24 h before antigen elicits an approximately twofold enhancement of serum IgM and a 3- to 10-fold enhancement of serum IgG anti-trintriphenyl (TNP) antibodies in response to immunization with optimal doses of TNP-Ficoll or TNP-sheep red blood cells (TNP-SRBC). 4.22aM delta a injected 1 wk before or 3 d after TNP-SRBC, however, has no effect on IgG anti-TNP levels. The adjuvant effect of anti-delta-chain antibody was markedly decreased when suboptimal antigen doses were used. Furthermore, even in the case of TNP-Ficoll, a relatively T-independent antigen, the ability of 4.22aM dalta a to enhance the anti-TNP antibody response was T cell dependent. Our data suggest that the binding of anti-delta-chain antibody to cell sIgD may partially activate B lymphocytes and make them more capable of differentiating into antibody-secreting cells when stimulated by antigen-specific T cell help.

CBA/N mice carry a recessive mutation at the X-linked immune deficiency (xid) locus that precludes their response to certain thymus-independent (TI) antigens. We have determined that xid is situated on the X-chromosome between the genes Ta (tabby) and Hyp (hypophosphatemia), genetic distances being Ta-6.6 +/- 1.8-xid-12.2 +/- 2.3-Hyp.

The immune response to the synthetic amino acid terpolymer (L-glutamic acid55 L-lysine33 L-tyrosine15)n (GLT) was studied in normal human volunteers. Delayed skin test reactivity to this antigen was seen in 34 of 61 subjects immunized with 150 µg of GLT. No antibody to GLT was detected in these responding individuals. There was a close correlation between the in vivo skin reactivity of volunteers to GLT and the ability of their lymphocytes to produce migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in response to GLT in vitro. However, a similar correlation was not seen when the in vitro proliferative response of lymphocytes to GLT, as measured by [methyl-3H] thymidine ([3H]TdR) incorporation, was assayed. HL-A typing of volunteers was studied to determine if responsiveness to GLT was correlated to HL-A type. No statistical association was seen after correction was made for the number of individual HL-A antigens.