Natural autoreactive H‐2‐specific serum antibodies in a group of BALB/cBy (H‐2^d) mice

Abstract

Natural autoreactive H‐2‐specific antibodies were detected by lymphocytotoxic test in sera of 15 BALB/cBy (H‐2d) mice maintained in the same cage. The antibodies could be detected only for a short period of time; they reacted strongly with H‐2d and H‐2s and weakly with H‐2k,q,r cells. Such antibodies could not be identified in sera of other groups of mice of the same strain maintained in the same environment. All serum‐positive mice had a shorter life span than control mice. However, neither a real link between the antibodies and the disease nor a clear understanding of the disease was achieved.