Intracellular events associated with inhibition of B cell activation by monoclonal antibodies to HLA class II antigens

Abstract

We have investigated several aspects of the inhibitory effects of monoclonal antibodies (mAb) directed against MHC class II antigens in B cell activation/proliferation, using a panel of mAb specifically reactive with antigens encoded by HLA class II loci (DP, DQ, DR). All mAb except the anti-DP mAb inhibited significantly anti-μ plus B cell growth factor-induced DNA synthesis. Only one mAb, however, which was reactive with gene products of all three class II loci (DP, DQ, DR) inhibited anti-μ-induced DNA synthesis as well as c-myc mRNA expression. In addition, the same mAb inhibited the early events induced by anti-μ stimulation alone, including phosphatidylinositol turnover and elevation of [Ca²⁺]_i. In contrast to previous findings in the murine system, none of the anti-MHC class II mAb used in this study increased the cAMP levels.