Functional significance of the complement receptors on B lymphocytes

The presence of a receptor for complement on T lymphocytes. Restriction of the complement receptor to Fc-receptor-bearing T lymphocytes

Using rhodaminated guinea pig anti-ovalbumin:ovalbumin:complement complexes, a fluoresceinated monoclonal anti-Thy 1 antibody and a FACS-II equipped with dual fluorescence detection channels, we find that 25-30% of Thy 1+ splenocytes express a receptor for complement. That a receptor for complement is involved in binding the guinea-pig AgAb:C' complexes is supported by the observations that: a) guinea-pig complexes, which were not treated with a serum source of complement or which were treated with either fresh serum in the presence of EDTA or with heat-inactivated serum, do not bind to the T lymphocytes, and b) heat-aggregated human gamma globulin, which effectively inhibits binding of mouse AgAb complexes to the aFcR gamma, has no effect on the binding of guinea-pig AgAb:C' complexes to the T lymphocytes. By analyzing cell subpopulations isolated by cell sorting, it is demonstrated that the C'R-positive T lymphocyte clearly delineates a major subpopulation of aFcR gamma-positive T lymphocytes, whereas no cells are found bearing a C'R, while lacking the aFcR gamma. The implications of the presence of a C'R in immunoregulation are discussed.

Receptors for complement of Langerhans cells

A population of guinea pig epidermal cells, identified as Langerhans cells, formed rosettes with sheep erythrocytes coated with IgM immunoglobulin and C3b (EAC1-3b) but not with intermediates carrying only C1, C14b, or C14b2a. These findings were unusual since most other cells expressing C3b receptors also express C4b receptors. To investigate whether these results were the consequence of a limited number of C4b molecules on the cells, EAC14b cells were prepared with increased amounts of C4b (15 to 250 micrograms on 10(9) cells). EAC14b rosette formation was found with a maximal number when there were 3,000 molecules per cell, a 6-fold excess over that found in previous experiments. One could inhibit this rosette formation by fluid phase C3b as well as by fluid phase C4b, suggesting proximity or possible identity of these 2 receptors.

Specificity of an anti-murine B cell serum

An antiserum (ABS) specific for murine B cells was prepared in rabbits by immunization with lymph node cells from nude mice as reported previously (1). To make the antiserum specific for antibody-forming cell precursors (AFCP) extensive absorption was required with mouse serum, erythrocytes and thymus cells. Even after ABS was no longer cytotoxic for thymus cells, further absorption with thymus cells was necessary to make it ineffective for plaque-forming cells (PFC). The correlation between cells bearing C3- or Fc-receptors and the cells bearing antigen(s) to which ABS reacts was studied. In the residual spleen cells treated with ABS and complement, there were some EAg and EAmCm rosette-forming cells. There were also some spleen cells reacting with ABS even after depletion of C3- and/or Fc-receptor-bearing cells. These results show that the antigen(s) to which ABS reacts could be a marker on B cells different from C3- or Fc-receptors. Spleen cells reacting with ABS were compared with cells bearing C3- or Fc-receptors various days after birth. The cells sensitive to ABS increased in spleens earlier after birth than those with C3- or Fc-receptors.

Antibody-independent activation of complement by human peripheral B lymphocytes

Normal human peripheral blood lymphocytes were shown to activate complement in normal human serum (NHS). This activation led to C3 fixation on the cell membrane, which in turn was visualized by fluorescence. The reaction occurred in the absence of detectable amounts of antibodies, since an agammaglobulinemic patient's serum also supported complement activation, and the results were unaltered by absorption of normal human serum. Trypsin treatment of lymphocytes to remove possible complement activators bound to the cell membrane, did not have any effect on the complement activation by lymphocytes. Complement membrane fluorescence was abolished in the presence of EDTA or ethyleneglycolbis(aminoethylether) tetraacetate (EGTA) supplemented by Mg++ions indicating that the classical pathway of complement activation was involved in the reaction. Experiments performed with T and B-purified populations showed that the phenomenon was confined to the B cell fraction. Complement deposition did not diminish the number of EAC rosettes, and viability remained unchanged after exposure of lymphocytes to normal human serum.

Cellular requirements for the induction of cytotoxic T cells in vitro

The stimulator and accessory cell requirements for the induction of cytotoxic T cell responses to alloantigens in vitro are reviewed. The ability of lymphocytes to stimulate was acquired early in development and was found to be a property of both Ig+ and Ig- cells. The presence of Fc receptors, complement receptors or Ia antigens on lymphocytes did not confer superior stimulator capacity. In contrast to lymphocytes mature macrophages were poor stimulators. When resting lymphocytes were used as a source of stimulator cells there was an additional requirement for an adherent accessory cell population for the induction of cytotoxic T cells. The accessory cell population functioned whether syngeneic or allogeneic with the responder and was required for the induction rather than the maintenance of the response. It was further characterized as an Ig+, theta, FcR+/-, CR +/-, Ia- cell which was not a mature macrophage. Accessory cells could be replaced to some extent by supernatants from spleen cell cultures. A model for T cell induction is proposed where only cells which produce unique inductive stimuli are able to function as stimulator cells. Stimulator cells are defined as those cells capable of stimulating cytotoxic T cell precursors directly and independently. Stimulator capacity is suggested to be a function of activated cells only, thus lymphocytes only stimulate following activation by accessory cells. Cells lacking innate stimulator capacity but exhibiting Ia antigens are suggested to stimulate via an alternative means.

Murine B-cell subpopulations responsive to T-dependent and T-independent antigens

Strain A/J mice made secondary indirect plaque-forming cell (PFC) responses to azobenzenearsonate (ABA) conjugates of giant keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH), a thymic-dependent antigen, but not to conjugates of Ficoll, a T-independent antigen. ABA-Ficoll was also unable to elicit a response in animals primed with ABA-KLH, which have an expanded anti-ABA memory cell pool. On the other hand, ABA-Ficoll rendered mice unresponsive to ABA-KLH when administered before priming or boosting with the T-dependent immunogen. Hence, the T-independent antigen was able to tolerize but unable to trigger B-memory cells responsive to the T-dependent antigen. A/J mice immunized with dinitrophenyl conjugates of Ficoll or bovine IgG (BGG) made vigorous IgM and IgG PFC responses. PFC responses to ABA-KLH and 2,4-dinitrophenyl (DNP)-BGG were abrogated by depleting mice of C3 with cobra venom factor, whereas the IgM and IgG PFC responses to DNP-Ficoll were unaffected. B lymphocytes were fractionated on the basis of receptors for C3 and the subpopulations were assayed for in vitro PFC responses to DNP-Ficoll. Very little response was obtained from complement receptor lymphocyte [CRL(+)] B cells, whereas CRL(-) cells were more responsive than unfractionated B cells. Both populations responded to a polyclonal B-cell mitogen (lipopolysaccharide). On the other hand, the in vitro PFC response to a T-dependent antigen (sheep erythrocytes) correlated with the presence of CRL(+) B cells in the cultures. However, a minor component of this response, sensitive to anti-Thy-1 serum, was made by CRL(-) B cells, indicating the existence of subpopulations of T-dependent B cells with different signalling requirements. The results suggest that most B cells responsive to T-dependent antigens possess receptors for C3 and that C3 plays an obligatory role in the response of these cells. A distinct subpopulation of B cells which lack C3 receptors respond to T-independent antigens. The precursors of PFC for the ABA epitope reside largely or exclusively in the CRL(+) compartment in A/J mice, whereas precursors for the DNP determinant are found in both compartments.