SUMMARYThe role of B cells as antigen-presenting cells is being recognized increasingly in immune responses to infections and autoimmunity. We compared T cell responses in wild-type and B cell-deficient mice immunized with the thyrotrophin receptor (TSHR), the major autoantigen in Graves' disease. Three B cell-deficient mouse strains were studied: J H D (no B cells), mIgM (membrane-bound monoclonal IgM + B cells) and (m + s)IgM (membrane-bound and secreted monoclonal IgM). Wild-type and B celldeficient mice (BALB/c background) were studied 8 weeks after three injections of TSHR or control adenovirus. Only wild-type mice developed IgG class TSHR antibodies and hyperthyroidism. After challenge with TSHR antigen, splenocyte cultures were tested for cytokine production. Splenocytes from TSHR adenovirus injected wild-type and mIgM-mice, but not from J H D-or (m + s)IgM-mice, produced interferon (IFN)-g in response to TSHR protein. Concanavalin A and pokeweed mitogen induced comparable IFN-g secretion in all groups of mice except in the J H D strain in which responses were reduced. The absence in (m + s)IgM mice and presence in mIgM mice of an anamnestic response to TSHR antigen was unrelated to lymphoid cell types. Surprisingly, although TSHR-specific antibodies were undetectable, low levels of serum IgG were present in mIgM-but not (m + s)IgM mice. Moreover, IFN-g production by antigen-stimulated splenocytes correlated with IgG levels. In conclusion, T cell responses to TSHR antigen developed only in mice with IgG-secreting B cells. Consequently, in the TSHR-adenovirus model of Graves' disease, some normal B cells appear to be required for the development of memory T cells.
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