Evidence for selection of a population of multi-reactive B cells into the splenic marginal zone

Antibody reactivity to self-antigens is a normal component of the immune system. To study the mechanism by which self-reactive B cells are generated and maintained, we analyzed B cell development in transgenic mice that express a rearranged V(H)81X heavy chain from the preimmune repertoire, In these mice, >95% of B cells express the transgene in association with a variety of kappa light chains but V(kappa)1C being the dominant light chain, These transgenic B cells with identical V(kappa)1C-J(kappa)5 joins do not normally secrete IgM in vivo, but antibodies derived from these a cells, through LPS activation in vitro or after hybridoma immortalization, are self-reactive and recognize an ubiquitous epitope(s) on intracytoplasmic proteins from different tissues. They have the phenotype and localization pattern of long-lived marginal zone a cells and their development in vivo is blocked by injection of soluble V(H)81X-V(kappa)1CJ(kappa)5 IgM antibody, The observations in this transgenic mouse provide evidence for positive selection of a population of self-reactive B cells. These B cells enter the peripheral pool of a cells where they localize in the marginal zone of the spleen and, in contrast to other transgene-expressing B cells, do not secrete IgM antibody.