Endotoxin-induced auto-immunity in mice. II. Reactivity of LPS-hyporesponsive and C5-deficient animals

Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol. 1988;86(4):370-4. doi: 10.1159/000234621.

Abstract

Auto-antibody responses and circulating immune complex levels of mice with abnormal reactions to endotoxin were investigated after injection with the bacterial product. It was observed that C3H/HeJ mice displayed very high background plaque-forming cell responses towards bromelain-treated isologous erythrocytes which were slightly enhanced by endotoxin treatment. The same animals, however, did not bear autohaemolysins in their serum, but became so upon endotoxin injection. A possible relationship between the high background reactivity of C3H/HeJ mice and the low toxicity of endotoxin in these animals is discussed. Neither untreated nor lipopolysaccharide-injected C3H/HeJ mice showed significant immune complex levels in their sera. This may be explained by their hyporesponsiveness, but by a low sensitivity to the toxic effects of endotoxin as well. C5-deficient and C5-sufficient mice showed similar auto-immune reactions, indicating that C5a, which is responsible for other effects of endotoxin, is not involved in endotoxin-induced auto-immunity.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibody-Producing Cells
  • Antigen-Antibody Complex / immunology
  • Autoantibodies / immunology*
  • Complement C5 / deficiency
  • Endotoxins / pharmacology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred Strains
  • Spleen / cytology

Substances

  • Antigen-Antibody Complex
  • Autoantibodies
  • Complement C5
  • Endotoxins