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Antigen Receptor Cross‐Linking by Anti‐Immunoglobulin Antibodies Coupled to Cell Surface Membrane Induces Rapid Apoptosis of Normal Spleen B cells
Author(s) -
Naoki Watanabe,
Takashi Nomura,
Toshiyuki Takai,
Tsutomu Chiba,
Tasuku Honjo,
Takeshi Tsubata
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.934
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1365-3083
pISSN - 0300-9475
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-3083.1998.00346.x
Subject(s) - antibody , antigen , apoptosis , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , b 1 cell , receptor , spleen , surface immunoglobulin , b cell , cell surface receptor , cell , chemistry , immunology , immune system , antigen presenting cell , t cell , biochemistry
Cross‐linking of surface immunoglobulin (sIg) has been shown to induce either activation or apoptosis of mature B cells presumably depending on the nature of antigens. However, the nature of antigens for induction of mature B‐cell apoptosis is not yet fully understood. We cross‐linked sIg of mature B cells with various amounts of either anti‐Ig antibodies in the soluble form or anti‐Ig coupled to erythrocytes or myeloma cells as surrogate membrane‐bound antigens. Anti‐Ig antibodies coupled to cell surface membrane induced rapid and extensive apoptosis of normal spleen B cells even in the absence of signalling via the Fc receptor. In contrast, soluble anti‐Ig induced proliferation or apoptosis of mature B cells depending on the concentration of anti‐Ig. The extent of apoptosis induced by soluble anti‐Ig was limited compared to that induced by membrane‐bound anti‐Ig. These results suggest that mature B cells undergo apoptosis or proliferation depending on whether antigens are soluble or membrane‐bound and on antigen doses.