Mice completely suppressed for the expression of immunoglobulin kappa light chain.

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.81.1.211
• Publication Date: 2006-05-31T07:29:51Z
• Authors: S Weiss; K Lehmann; W C Raschke; M Cohn
• Keywords: Serology: Antigen; Immunosuppression Therapy; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Immunoglobulin mu-Chains; Immune Sera; Organs:; 3. Good health; Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains; Mice; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Antibody Formation; Animals; Immunoglobulin Light Chains; Strains: BALB/C; Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains

Complete suppression of expression of immunoglobulin kappa light chain was achieved by injecting female mice from birth with a mixture of antisera against the mu heavy chain and kappa light chain (anti-mu and anti-kappa). Then their offspring were injected with anti-kappa from birth. This resulted in stable suppression as long as anti-kappa injections were continued. kappa light chain was not detectable either in serum or at the cellular level. The number of B cells in spleen and the concentration of immunoglobulin classes and subclasses in serum were normal. The normal levels were achieved by a compensating enhancement of lambda light chain expression. Analysis of the light chains of immunoglobulins secreted by spleen cells from suppressed mice after liposaccharide stimulation by two-dimensional gels showed lambda chain to have a limited heterogeneity. Primary responses to dinitrophenol, influenza strain A, and keyhole limpet hemocyanin were drastically affected, whereas secondary responses appeared to be quite normal, suggesting a surprisingly large potential repertoire.