Polyclonal activation of the murine immune system by an antibody to IgD V. Effect on germinal centers

Thomas J. Flotte, Fred D. Finkelman, G. Jeanette Thorbecke

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Heterologous anti‐mouse δ chain has been shown to induce T‐independent polyclonal B cell proliferation by 24 h after injection into mice and a T‐dependent polyclonal increase in the number of IgG‐secreting cells in spleen and lymph nodes 6 days after injection. The effect of anti‐δ on germinal center cells has been difficult to determine, however, since anti‐δ‐induced blast transformation of mantle zone cells makes it difficult to distinguish these cells from germinal center cells. To clarify the effect of anti‐δ on germinal centers, we stained lymph node sections from control and anti‐δ‐injected mice with peanut agglutinin conjugated to horseradish peroxidase which clearly differentiates the germinal center cells from other large and small lymphoid cells. For the first 5 days after i.v. injection of goat anti‐mouse δ, the germinal center volumes did not differ significantly from those of mice injected with control antibodies. On days 6 and 7 after injection, the lymph node germinal center volumes of anti‐δ‐treated mice increased on average over 10‐fold as compared to those of mice injected with an equal amount of control antibody. Thus, while anti‐δ antibody directly induced blastogenesis of mantle layer B cells, it appears to have little direct effect on germinal center cells. In contrast, rapid germinal center development is seen in anti‐δ‐injected mice during the T‐dependent phase of B cell activation and occurs simultaneously with the appearance of large numbers of IgG‐secreting cells.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)725-728
Number of pages4
JournalEuropean Journal of Immunology
Volume14
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - 1984

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology

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