Idiopathic paraproteinemia. III. Increased frequency of paraproteinemia in thymectomized aging C57BL/KaLwRij and CBA/BrARij mice

The influence of thymectomy on the appearance of idiopathic paraproteinemia (IP) during aging was investigated in mice of the C57BL/KaLwRij and the CBA/BrARij strains, which under normal conditions develop IP in high and low frequency, respectively. Compared with sham-thymectomized mice, C57BL mice thymectomized at a young adult age showed a markedly increased frequency and an earlier onset of IP during aging; this was even more pronounced in neonatally thymectomized mice. A similar effect of thymectomy was also observed in mice of the CBA strain. Restriction in the heterogeneity of the serum immunoglobulins and the appearance of transient homogeneous Ig components was another frequent finding and this often preceded the appearance of IP in mice of both strains. Thymectomy did not substantially influence either the incidence of paraproteinemias due to a B cell malignancy or the isotype distribution among the paraproteins produced. The results are compatible with the hypothesis that IP develops in three stages as a consequence of an age-related immunnodeficiency that primarily affects the T immune system.

Transient IgA-lambda paraproteinemia during treatment of acute myelomonoblastic leukemia

Monoclonal plasma cell proliferation with secretion of IgA-lambda and free lambda light chains during a phase of bone marrow aplasia following intensive chemotherapy was observed in a patient suffering from acute myelomonoblastic leukemia. The clonal expansion and regression was investigated at the cellular level by immunofluorescence using an antiserum against the idiotype of the paraportein. Although a large panel of common antigens was used for testing, no antibody activity of the paraprotein could be demonstrated.

Homogeneous immunoglobulins in the serum of irradiated and bone marrow reconstituted mice: the role of thymus and spleen

The influence of thymectomy and splenectomy on the frequency and class distribution of homogeneous immunoglobulins (H-Ig) in serum was studied in lethally irradiated (DBA/2 x C57Bl/Rij)F1 mice reconstituted with syngeneic bone marrow. During four follow-up periods in the first 9 months after transplantation, the sham-operated controls and splenectomized animals developed transient H-Ig in an average frequency of 14.2 and 15.7% respectively. There were no marked differences in the incidence of H-Ig within these two groups. In contrast, thymectomized mice and mice both thymectomized and splenectomized showed H-Ig in much higher frequencies (average percentages 31.6 and 36.5, respectively). The highest frequency of H-Ig was observed between 1.5 and 3.5 months after transplantation. H-Ig of the IgG1 and IgG2 subclasses were most frequent in all groups during the first 3.5 months. Later, H-Ig belonging to the IgM class also appeared in somewhat higher numbers. H-Ig of the IgA class was a very rare finding at any time. These results indicate that the presence of the thymus, but not necessarily of the spleen, is an important factor in the regulation of the immunoglobulin heterogeneity during the reconstitution of the immune system in lethally irradiated and bone marrow reconstituted mice.

Regional deficiency of secretory IgA in a patient with combined immunodeficiency of the ADA deficient type

The IgA system in a patient with SCID and ADA deficiency showed heterogeneity. Serum IgA and stool secretory IgA (SIgA) levels were normal, but with altered kappa/lambda and A1/A2 subclass ratios; IgA in saliva and urine was deficient. Amounts of secretory component were normal. Jejunal and rectal biopsies showed prominent lymphonodular hyperplasia, but no cells containing IgA. A normal serum IgA level therefore does not always predict an intact secretory IgA system.

Idiopathic paraproteinemia. II. Transplantation of the paraprotein-producing clone from old to young C57BL/KaLwRij mice

Transplantation experiments in the C57BL/KaLwRij mouse model of idiopathic paraproteinemia (IP) showed that an IP-producing clone can be further propagated in young, lethally irradiated mice and also equally as well in nonirradiated recipients by a bone marrow and/or spleen cell transfer. The latency period before the original paraprotein was detected in the sera of recipients varied in different experiments between 1 and 9 months after transplantation. With subsequent transplantations, the "take" frequency gradually decreased. Propagation of IP for three to four generations seems to be the final limit. In comparison to age-matched seems to be the final limit. In comparison to age-matched control groups, no substantial influence of the transplanted IP on the survival of the recipients was observed. In contrast, transplantation of cells from mice with a B cell lymphoma or a myeloma led to continuous propagation of the malignancy, with a high "take" frequency, progressive development of the paraproteinemia, and a shortened survival time of the recipients. These findings indicate that IP represents in its final stage in the aging C57BL mice an intrinsic cellular defect within the affected B cell clone, which is, however, different from that found in B cell malignancies.

Idiopathic paraproteinaemia. I. Studies in an animal model--the ageing C57BL/KaLwRij mouse

A search for a suitable animal model for studies on idiopathic paraproteinaemia showed that an age-dependent increase in the appearance of homogeneous immunoglobulins in serum was common to all of the seven mouse strains investigated to date. The highest frequency was found in C57Bl/KaLwRij mice. Further investigations in this strain demonstrated that, except for some quantitative differences, most of the features of human and C57BL Mouse idiopathic paraproteinaemia were essentially the same. No clear-cut correlation was found between the idiopathic paraproteinaemia and, in the old C57B1 mice, a rather frequently occurring reticulum cell sarcoma B and amyloidosis. The mouse idiopathic paraproteinaemia can be regarded as an analogue of the human idiopathic paraproteinaemia and therefore as a suitable model for further experimental studies.

A rapid, simple, and reliable technique for preparation of antisera against idiotypes of homogeneous immunoglobulins

One-step immunization of guinea pigs with homogeneous immunoglobulins partly purified by micro-agar electrophoresis represents a rapid and reliable microtechnique for the preparation of antisera against the idiotype of the homogeneous immunoglobulins. Testing of these antisera by immunodiffusion techniques requires agar plates containing 3% polyethyleneglycol 6000.

Immunoglobulins and transient paraproteins in sera of patients with the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome: a follow-up study

Immunoglobulin levels of individual classes and IgG subclasses and the occurrence of homogeneous immunoglobulins--paraproteins--were studied longitudinally in the sera of three patients with the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome; Common findings in all three patients were great variations in the immunoglobulin levels, restricted heterogeneity of the immunoglobulins, the frequent appearance of transient homogeneous immunoglobulins and the presence of serum antibodies against bovine milk proteins. A partial and selective deficiency involving mainly the T immune system is postulated as an explanation for these findings.

Beta2-microglobulin in human colostrum and milk: effect of breast feeding and physico-chemical characterization

A statistically significant increase in beta2-microglobulin concentration in babies' sera after birth was accompanied by a decrease in beta2-microglobulin concentration in sera of nursing and non-nursing mothers; the amount by which babies' sera concentrations increased was not correlated with the decrease in serum or milk concentrations in their mothers. These results suggest that breast feeding does not affect the concentration of beta2-microglobulin in babies' sera. Furthermore, there was no relationship between serum beta2-microglobulin concentration of mothers and their babies at either point of observation. In all instances, however, the beta2-microglobulin concentration was significantly higher in infants' sera than in mothers' sera.

The nature of the polymeric serum IgA in man

The nature and the amount of polymeric IgA in sera from normal, adult humans was investigated by means of three markers that selectively differentiate polymeric IgA: the capacity to bind secretory component; the presence of the J chain; and the reactivity with an antiserum that recognizes only the polymeric form of IgA. The results demonstrated that the sera of healthy adults contain only minimal amounts (less than 1% of the total serum IgA) of the true dimeric IgA. These conditions are valid for healthy individuals only. Pathological conditions at the secretory sites may result in increased values for the dimeric as well as for the secretory IgA in serum.

Immunoglobulin patterns in humans over 95 years of age

Immunoglobulin patterns were investigated in seventy-three volunteers older than 95 years. An idiopathic paraproteinaemia was found in 19% of the cases. A restriction of heterogeneity and an imbalance in the kappa/lambda ratio of the immunoglobulins was seen in a number of other sera. Determinations of immunoglobulin levels in sera of individuals without paraproteinaemia showed an increase in IgA and IgG. The quantitations of the IgG subclasses demonstrated that an increase in the IgG1 and IgG3 subclasses is responsible for the elevated level of the IgG. The variation in the immunoglobulin levels increased significantly with age of IgM and for the three major IgG subclasses. No abnormalities were found in the urine or in the mixed saliva. These results indicate that selective changes in the extent of the antibody-immunoglobulin repertoire characterize the immunoglobulin pattern of ageing man.