Genetic control of the immune response to collagen. II. Antibody responses produced in fetal liver restored radiation chimeras and thymus reconstituted F1 hybrid nude mice.

Abstract

The level of antibody [Ab] produced in response to calf skin collagen in mice is influenced by genes which are closely linked to the I region of the H-2 major histocompatibility complex. This influence is expressed during lymphoid maturation by testing the Ab responsiveness to collagen in 2 types of chimeric mice. High responder and low responder parental strain mice were lethally irradiated and restored with fetal liver cells from (high .times. low responder) F1 mice. These F1 .fwdarw. parent chimeras exhibited an immune response phenotype characteristic of the irradiated parental strain animals. H-2 determinants of the host affect antigen responsiveness. (High .times. low responder) F1 congenitally athymic (nude) mice were restored with fetal thymus transplants from high or low responder parental strain mice. After maturation these mice were competent for a T[thymus-derived]-dependent Ig[immunoglobulin]G response to SRBC [sheep red blood cells]. The responsiveness to collagen in these mice was characteristic of the parental strain thymus donors. The expression of H-2 determinants in thymic tissue during lymphoid maturation may influence the Ab response phenotype expressed by mice.