Inhibition of antibody production in plasmacytoma cells by antigen

Abstract

Tissue culture-adapted MOPC 315 mouse plasmacytoma cells which secrete monoclonal anti-DNP IgA antibody, were cultured with a variety of DNP-carrier conjugates and the production of IgA measured by pulse labeling with [³H]leucine and by plaque-forming cell assays. DNP-coupled bovine, human and rabbit 7-globulins (containing 9 to 12 DNP groups per 50 000 mol.wt. of carrier) inhibited the synthesis and secretion of IgA by 40 to 80 %. This inhibition was specific, since unconjugated globulins were ineffective, non-IgA proteins and DNA synthesis remained unaffected, and DNP-globulins had no effect on X5563 cells which do not bind DNP. The degree of suppression of antibody production depended on the concentration and epitope density of the antigen and on the duration of exposure of cells to it, and was not attributable to absorption of secreted antibody by cell-bound antigen. Comparably substituted DNP conjugates of F(ab')₂ and intact globulins were equally inhibitory. The inhibition of antibody synthesis by DNP-BGG was reversible following removal of the antigen. This phenomenon is similar in many respects to the antigen-induced blockade of normal antibody-secreting cells, and provides a valuable model system for analyzing the mechanisms of antigen-mediated cellular inactivation.