Immunoglobulin production by tonsil lymphocytes before and after Epstein-Barr virus transformation

Qualitative and quantitative immunoglobulin production by specific bacteria in chronic tonsillar disease

Tonsillar tissue lymphocyte (TTL) function as measured by immunoglobulin production was assessed in vitro in 60 tonsils, 51 diseased and 9 normal controls. The diseased specimens were from children (aged 3 to 10 years) clinically classified as having recurrent tonsillitis (RT), idiopathic tonsillar hyperplasia (ITH), or recurrent tonsillitis with hyperplasia (RT/H). TTLs were challenged with intact, heat-inactivated bacteria found in the core of diseased tonsils--Streptococcus pyogenes (SP) and Haemophilus influenzae type B (HIB) as well as the dominant bacterium (DB) grown from that particular tonsillar core. The phytomitogen, leukoagglutinin (LA), was used as a nonspecific activator. Qualitative immunoglobulin production was assessed for the immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin M (IgM), and immunoglobulin A (IgA) classes. Immunoglobulin-specific production was quantified at the basal level, and at 2, 4, and 6 days following stimulation. Stimulation with HIB produced the greatest amount of IgG and IgM in TTLs from control tonsils. The DB was a relatively weak stimulator of normal (control) TTLs, yet produced relatively brisk IgG responses in the RT and ITH categories. It did, however, yield only marginal IgM secretion in these groups. IgA was consistently produced after stimulation in diseased TTLs, yet was not elicited from normal TTLs. The aforementioned findings suggest a differential qualitative and quantitative immunoglobulin response for healthy, recurrently infected, and hyperplastic tonsils. Lymphocyte hypofunction along with structural changes associated with hyperplasia may be central to the etiology of chronic tonsillar disease. The tonsillar immunologic response in disease and health is discussed.

Autoimmunity to collagen in adult periodontal disease: immunoglobulin classes in sera and tissue

The immunoglobulin class distribution of antibody to human collagen type I has been examined in sera and gingival extracts from patients with adult chronic periodontitis. Tissue extracts were made either by simple washing or ultrasonication. With either method, IgG and IgA antibodies to collagen were present in higher concentration in tissue extracts than in autologous serum when adjustment was made for dilution differences. No significant differences were found for IgM antibodies. Antibodies to human collagen type I are usually "natural antibodies" of the IgM class and, therefore, our findings suggest a class switch to IgG in inflamed gingivae, presumably due to prolonged antigenic stimulation.

Limiting dilution analysis of the B cell compartment in human bone marrow

Mononuclear cells (MNC) obtained from adult rib specimen were investigated for their capacity to produce immunoglobulin (Ig) in vitro. Using limiting dilution analysis 3 populations of B lineage cells could be distinguished. The first produces Ig in culture without any intentional activation. These cells are strictly nonproliferating and sustain extraordinary secretory rates of 5 X 10(7)-10 X 10(7) molecules IgG, IgA or IgM/cell/h for at least 2 weeks. They occur at frequencies of 1 X 10(-4)-10 X 10(-4) (marrow MNC) or represent 1-5% of marrow B cells. Following exposure to infectious Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), these cells do not (a) proliferate, (b) express EBV-determined nuclear antigens (EBNA), (c) enhance their secretory rates or (d) show secretory activity for prolonged time. These cells are therefore EBV resistant. If these cells produced their antibody at similar rates in vivo, then their frequencies would suggest that they could provide up to 2/3 of daily synthetic rates for IgG and IgA and 20-30% of the daily IgM production. The second population of marrow B cells is exclusively committed to IgM production. Following exposure to EBV these cells proliferate, express EBNA and begin to secrete IgM. The third population represents 90% of marrow B cells. In our hands, these cells are unable to produce Ig in vitro.

A cytotoxic mononuclear phagocytic cell line

A human mononuclear phagocytic cell line (M22) was established from lymph node cells of a cancer patient. Little or no multiplication occurred in the absence of target cells such as primary or continuous cultures of human, monkey, or mouse. In response to a target stimulus, M22 altered from the resting thick-walled stage and in time, target cells were destroyed. M22 resembled a monocyte, possessing Fc and complement receptors, strong nonspecific esterase activity, pinocytosis, and lacking B- and T-cell markers but differed by lacking lysozyme. It possessed acid and alkaline phosphatases but lacked myeloperoxidase. Unlike other described monocyte lines, M22 was unique in its nonspecific cytotoxic activity.