Open AccessIncreased expression of class II major histocompatibility complex molecules on B cells in rats susceptible or resistant to HgC1 2 ‐induced autoimmunity
Author(s) -
DUBEY C.,
BELLON B.,
HLRSCH F.,
KUHN J.,
VIAL M. C.,
GOLDMAN M.,
DRUET P.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
clinical & experimental immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.329
H-Index - 135
eISSN - 1365-2249
pISSN - 0009-9104
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2249.1991.tb05783.x
Subject(s) - autoimmunity , major histocompatibility complex , immunology , biology , immune system , spleen , autoimmune disease , mhc class ii , antibody
SUMMARY Administration of HgCl 2 to the susceptible Brown‐Norway (BN)rais induces an autoimmune disease characterized by a T‐dependent polyclonal activation of B cells responsible for a dramatic increase in serum IgE concentration. The resistant Lewis (LEW) rats injected with HgCi 2 . do not exhibit such autoimmune manifestations. We show here that, upon HgCl 2 injections, major histocompalibility complex (MHC) class II molecule expression is increased very early in lymph nodes and spleen B cells from both strains. So far. it is the earliest marker (day 3)of the effect of HgCI 2 on the immune system. In both strains this enhancement is transient, but regulatory mechanisms arc much more efficient in the resistant LEW strain than in the susceptible BN strain, In addition, we observed that MHC class II molecule expression on B cells differs according to the organ and the rat strain tested. All these findings are discussed in an attempt to underline the role of MHC class II molecule expression in the occurrence of mercury‐induced stutoimmunity.