Both class switch recombination (CSR) and somatic hypermutation (SHM) require transcription and the trans-acting factor activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID), and must be up-regulated during antigen-dependent differentiation of B lymphocytes. To test the role of the heavy chain 3′ enhancers in both CSR and SHM, we used a BAC transgene of the entire heavy chain constant region locus. Using Cre-loxP recombination to delete a 28-kb region that contains the four known 3′ heavy chain enhancers, we isolated lines of BAC transgenic mice with an intact heavy chain locus and paired lines in the same chromosomal insertion site lacking the 3′ enhancers. Intact heavy chain transgenes undergo CSR to all heavy chain genes and mutate their transgenic VDJ exon. In paired transgenes lacking the 3′ enhancer region, CSR to most heavy chain genes is reduced to ∼1% of the levels for intact heavy chain loci; SHM is also reduced. Finally, we find that in B cells with a transgene lacking the 3′ enhancers, interchromosomal recombination between the transgenic VDJ exon and the endogenous heavy chain C genes is more easily detected than CSR within the transgene.

This study demonstrates that an optimal 12-fold, accelerated, real-time cine MRI pulse sequence using radial k-space sampling and CS produces good to excellent visual scores and relatively accurate LV functional parameters in patients at 1.5T and 3T. Magn Reson Med 79:2745-2751, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

Interleukin-12 (IL-12) is a pivotal cytokine that has dramatic effects on cell-mediated immunity. It is now becoming increasingly recognized that IL-12 also strongly controls humoral immunity. We have investigated the mechanism by which IL-12 induces alterations in antibody isotype expression by determining the influence of IL-12 on in vitro immunoglobulin (Ig) production in polyclonally activated murine spleen cell cultures. Cells exposed to IL-12 plus lipopolysaccharide or anti-CD40 monoclonal antibody showed dramatically elevated IgG2a and suppressed IgG1 production compared to cells cultured in the absence of IL-12. IL-12 treatment of spleen cell cultures induced expression of gamma2a germ-line transcripts, consistent with initiation of switch recombination to IgG2a. In addition, exposure of limiting dilution cultures to IL-12 increased IgG2a+ cell precursor frequency. All of the above results were dependent on interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). However, in the absence of IFN-gamma, IL-12 still had significant effects on Ig secretion. Specifically, IL-12 enhanced IgG1 and IgG2b anti-DNP antibody levels in mice containing specific disruptions in the IFN-gamma gene. Our results suggest that IL-12 induces T helper type 1 and natural killer cells to secrete large amounts of IFN-gamma which then causes B cells to switch to IgG2a and IgG3 production. In addition, IL-12 has direct or indirect effects on B cells that are independent of IFN-gamma. The IFN-gamma-independent effects may include enhancement of Ig expression by post-switched cells.

No abstract

The autosomal recessive mutation mnd2 results in early onset motor neuron disease with rapidly progressive paralysis, severe muscle wasting, regression of thymus and spleen, and death before 40 days of age. mnd2 has been mapped to mouse chromosome 6 with the gene order: centromere-Tcrb-Ly-2-Sftp-3-D6Mit4-mnd2-D6Mit 6, D6Mit9-D6Rck132-Raf-1, D6Mit11-D6Mit12-D6Mit14, mnd2 is located within a conserved linkage group with homologs on human chromosome 2p12-p13. Spinal motor neurons of homozygous affected animals are swollen and stain weakly, and electromyography revealed spontaneous activity characteristic of muscle denervation. Myelin staining was normal throughout the neuraxis. The clinical observations are consistent with a primary abnormality of lower motor neuron function. This new animal model will be of value for identification of a genetic defect responsible for motor neuron disease and for evaluation of new therapies.