Effects of the thymic microenvironment on autoantibody production in (NZB X NZW)F1 mice

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983 · Clin. Immunol. Immunopathol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0090-1229(83)90177-0· OSTI ID:5533105

Huston, D P; Smathers, P A; Reeves, J P; Steinberg, A D

The effects of the thymic microenvironment on autoantibody production in (NZB X NZW)F1 mice were studied. Neonatally thymectomized male and female F1 mice reconstituted with a parental or F1-irradiated thymic lobe were compared to nonreconstituted and sham-thymectomized controls. While maleness retarded the spontaneous production of ss- and ds-DNA antibodies, thymic grafts did not suppress antibodies to ss-DNA in either sex, but did suppress the production of antibodies to ds-DNA in female mice. A unique property of NZB thymic grafts was the inability to suppress anti-RBC antibodies in male mice. Thus, (i) the gender of the F1 recipient was the most important determinant of production of antibodies to ss-DNA, (ii) either maleness or the thymic microenvironment could retard production of anti-ds-DNA antibodies, and (iii) both gender and the thymic microenvironment were important in the regulation of anti-RBC antibody production. Since the administration of thymosin did not suppress autoantibody production, the effects of the thymic grafts was not solely via thymic hormone production. These studies suggest that sex hormones and/or the thymic microenvironment can exert a suppressive effect on autoantibody production and that autoantibodies differ in their susceptibility to such suppression.

• Research Organization: Section on Cellular Immunology, National Institute of Arthritis, Bethesda, Maryland
• OSTI ID: 5533105
• Journal Information: Clin. Immunol. Immunopathol.; (United States), Journal Name: Clin. Immunol. Immunopathol.; (United States) Vol. 26:1; ISSN CLIIA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560152* -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Animals
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
ANTIBODIES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BODY
CHIMERAS
FEMALES
GRAFT-HOST REACTION
HORMONES
LYMPHATIC SYSTEM
MALES
MAMMALS
MEDICINE
MICE
MOSAICISM
NEONATES
ORGANS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RODENTS
SOMATIC CELLS
SURGERY
THYMECTOMY
THYMOCYTES
THYMUS
VERTEBRATES