Changes of γ Globulin Carrying Cells in NZB Mice before Autoimmune Disease

[摘要] New Zealand black (NZB) mice have an impressive array of immunologic aberrations, and the female of the species seems to bear the heavier burden of autoimmune phenomena (1). These mice appear to be hyperresponsive to certain antigenic stimuli, but not to others (2–5). Both sexes display defective thymus function, and recently they have been shown to have a circulating thymocytotoxic autoantibody which is a macroglobulin (6).These abnormalities prompted us to look systematically at the γ globulin-carrying cells of both male and virgin female mice from an early age onward by using the reverse immune cytoadherence technique (RICA) (7). This technique uses a 5S hybrid antibody carrying one anti-γ-globulin site and one anti-ferritin site so that γ globulin-carrying cells form rosettes (rosette-forming cells, RFC) with ferritin-coated sheep red blood cells. While this work was in progress there was a report of a decrease in the percentage of cells carrying membrane immunoglobulins in the peripheral blood of NZB mice with advancing age.

[学科分类] 生物科学（综合）