Surface immunoglobulin on rabbit lymphoid cells. III. Double expression and separate endocytosis of surface immunoglobulin allotypes on heterozygous lymphocytes demonstrated by immunoelectron microscopic labeling

Immunofluorescence studies on the expression of VH a allotypes by pre-B and B cells of homozygous and heterozygous rabbits

Fluorochrome-conjugated antibodies specific for C mu determinants and VH a allotypes were used to examine pre-B cells and B lymphocytes for expression of these markers. The majority of mu+ bone marrow pre-B cells were shown to express a allotypic determinants in conjunction with C mu. Both pre-B and B cells from a2 a3 heterozygous rabbits showed allelic exclusion of these allotypes. Pre-B cells expressing the a2 or a3 specificities appeared to be generated in approximately equal numbers in heterozygotes, while B lymphocytes expressing a3 appeared to undergo preferential clonal expansion very early in development. It was also observed that rabbit bone marrow and blood contained a population of myeloid cells which, in a2 a3 heterozygotes, stained for both a2 and a3 determinants. The frequencies of this cell type, which exhibited bright immunofluorescence staining for a allotypes, could not be reduced by prolonged incubation at 37 degrees C but were readily reduced after cell suspensions were treated with low pH buffer. It is concluded that these myeloid cells bear high avidity Fc receptors for serum immunoglobulin and may be the culprits in studies which have found production of two a or b allotypes by individual B lymphocytes.

Surface immunoglobulin of rabbit peripheral blood lymphocytes: detection of allotypes by fluorescence and rosetting

Specific anti-allotype reagents were prepared to detect heavy and light chain allotypes on surface immunoglobulin-positive (sIg+) cells from a3a3b4b4, a2a2b5b5 homozygous and a2a2b4b5 heterozygous rabbits. Total sIg+ peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) were detected with fluorescein-labeled goat anti-light chain and sheep anti-rabbit Ig reagents. The total sIg+ cells detected with these reagents and the sum of a and b allotypes individually measured with specific fluorescent anti-allotype reagents (a2 + a3 or b4 + b5) were measured more or ess the same when measured by fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) II flow microfluorometry. The data provided no evidence for single cells expressing both allelic allotypes (allelic inclusion). We found that FACS and resetting techniques were generally equally sensitive. However, we detected a greater proportion of total b4+ plus b5+ cells by rosetting than by fluorescence in some PBL preparations from heterozygous b4b5 rabbits. This was not seen with artificial mixtures of b4b4 and b5b5 cells. The nature of these cells is not yet known. Conceivably, they were not scored as lymphocytes by light-scatter analysis on the FACS and hence were not counted, but were indistinguishable from lymphocytes by microscopy.

Allelic exclusion in the B lineage cells of the rabbit

Allelic exclusion of the K polypeptide chain allotypes b4 and b5 of the rabbit exists for the immunoglobulins of almost all plasma cells and of most mature small B lymphocytes. However, both these alleles are expressed simultaneously in rare plasma cells and in an usually large fraction of the lymphoid cells of the bone marrow. Our experiments support the idea that such bone marrow B lineage cells do not always show allelic exclusion.

Ultrastructural labeling of lymphocyte surface immunoglobulin: the preparation and use of soluble immune complexes as indirect immunoelectromicroscopic markers

2 distinct macronuclear markers, ferritin and hemocyanin, may be used in a mixed anti-globulin labeling reaction to localize lymphocyte surface immunoglobulin (Ig) determinants by transmission electron microscopy. Soluble immune complexes of the marker molecules (antigen) are prepared by complexing with specific antiserum in 40 to 50 x antigen excess; uncomplexed Ig is removed by ultrascentrifugation and/or gel filtration chromatography. Immunoelectrophoresis, spectrophotometry and passive hemagglutination inhibition assay are used to determine the purity and amounts of antibody-antigen in the purified immune complexes. For immunoelectron microscopic labeling, the immune complex markers are coupled to lymphocyte surface Ig by an indirect anti-Ig or anti-allotype antibody linkage. Labelled Ig determinants at 0 degrees C or in the presence of sodium azide are visualized as small patches of marker molecules on the lymphocyte surface membrane. This EM labeling method results in much more consistent and generally higher percentages of surface Ig positive cells (60 to 70% of rabbit peripheral blood lymphocytes) than the percentages obtained using other methods, such as immunofluorescence or autoradiography. If the lymphocytes are warmed to 37 degrees C in the absence of azide the labeled surface Ig determinants undergo rapid endocytosis; endocytotic vesicles containing marker molecules are visible. This mixed anti-globulin immunoelectronmicroscopic labeling system may be used to localize a wide variety of antigens on different cell surfaces.

Allotypes of IgM and IgD receptors in the mouse: a probe for lymphocyte differentiation

Antibodies to IgD and IgM are present in many mouse alloantisera made against lymphocytes. Antibodies to IgM are also present in a small minority of conventional antiallotype sera made against pertussis/anti-pertussis complexes. These antibodies reflect different allelic forms of IgD and IgM in different mouse strains, and allowed the mapping of the delta- and mu-chain genes (Ig-5 and Ig-6, respectively) to the heavy-chain complex. The variable portions of IgM and IgD receptors on individual cells bearing both chains are similar or identical. Both receptors show allelic exclusion and come from the same chromosome on individual cells (haplotype exclusion). It is suggested that very early in B lymphocyte differentiation there is a commitment to a given chromosome, and translocation of one copy of a given variable region gene to each heavy-chain gene. Subsequent switches of immunoglobulin class then involve differential gene activation. Immature B cells possess IgM receptors only and mature into cells bearing both IgM and IgD receptors. After activation with antigen, IgD is probably lost. These findings are discussed within the framework of the clonal abortion theory of B-lymphocyte tolerance.

Regulation of allotype expression in heterozygous rabbits. III. Concomitant modulation and concomitant suppression oa a2 and a3 allotypes on individual peripheral blood lymphocytes

Sensitization of peripheral blood lymphocytes from heterozygous a2/a3 rabbits with purified, monospecific anti-a3 antibodies, raised in a1/a1 rabbits, resulted in the disappearance of surface a2 and a3 allotypes (concomitant modulation) after subsequent incubation at 37 degrees C, as determined by the mixed antiglobulin (rosette) test. Similar results were obtained when anti-a2 antibodies were used. The dose dependence of modulation and comodulation were also studied. Testing of mixtures of homozygous a2/a2 plus a3/a3 cells never led to comodulation. Blocking studies, performed to determine the surface contiguity of a2 and a3 determinants, indicated that both allotypes are situated close together in the membrane on cells exhibiting allotype inclusion. Overnight culture in serum-free medium revealed that cells which underwent extensive modulation and comodulation were often suppressed for both homologous and alternate allotypes (concomitant suppression). These and other data suggest that a single modulation event, in which extensive removal of cell membrane Ig occurred, could serve to inhibit the re-expression of Ig. This may, in part, reflect interactions with membrane receptors involved in the regulation of expression of VH gene products. Implications of VH allotype inclusion are discussed.

Surface immunolglobulin on rabbit lymphoid cells. VI. Failure to detect d and e group immunoglobulin allotypes on lymphocytes by immunoelectron microscopic labeling

Surface immunoglobulin allotypes on rabbit peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) and spleen lymphocytes are detected by an immunoferritin labeling technique for electron microscopy. Human red blood cells, chemically coated with purified rabbit IgG of specific allotypes, served as test cells to assess the labeling specificity and efficiency. Immunoelectron microscopic labeling reveals that groups a, b, d and e allotypic specificities are readily detectable on passively coated test cells. However, only a and b group markers are detectable on lymphocytes. On rabbit PBL both a (VH of Fd region) and b (kappa chain constant region) group allotypes are detectable (73-78% and 68-77%, respectively); on spleen cells, 46% and 52-55% are positive for a and b locus allotypes, respectively. The d and e allotypes (i. e. gamma chain-specific) are undetectable on PBL or on spleen lymphocytes using this method. We conclude that the d and e group allotypes are either not present on the lymphocyte surface or are buried in the surface membrane and unacessible to the antisera used in this immunoferritin labeling technique.