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Updated: Aug 17, 2026

Flow Cytometric Characterization of Murine B Cell Development
Published on: January 22, 2021
Humoral autoimmunity in mice overexpressing B cell surface CD19: vital role for MHC class II
William Stohl1, Dong Xu, Kyoung Soo Kim
1Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, 2001 Zonal Avenue HMR 711, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA. stohl@usc.edu
B6 mice bearing a transgene (Tg) for human CD19 (hCD19) harbor increased numbers of splenic Ig-secreting cells (IgSC), increased serum levels of total Ig and autoantibodies, but decreased numbers of splenic B cells. To assess the influence of MHC class II (MHCII) to this phenotype, MHCII-deficient CD19-Tg mice were generated. Compared to MHCII-sufficient CD19-Tg mice, splenic IgSC numbers and serum Ig and autoantibody levels were markedly diminished, and the decrease in splenic B cell numbers was aggravated. Remarkably, genetic reconstitution of these MHCII-deficient mice with a human DQ8 Tg resulted in a hierarchical restorative pattern. Restoration of splenic B cell numbers was complete; restoration of numbers of splenic IgSC and of serum Ig levels was partial; and restoration of circulating autoantibody levels was virtually non-existent. Thus, MHCII expression has a profound effect on B cells which can be uncoupled from global Ig and autoantibody production in the hCD19-Tg model. This raises the possibility that MHCII affects B cells in a manner that, at least in part, is independent of helper T cell function.
B6 mice bearing a transgene (Tg) for human CD19 (hCD19) harbor increased numbers of splenic Ig-secreting cells (IgSC), increased serum levels of total Ig and autoantibodies, but decreased numbers of splenic B cells. To assess the influence of MHC class II (MHCII) to this phenotype, MHCII-deficient CD19-Tg mice were generated. Compared to MHCII-sufficient CD19-Tg mice, splenic IgSC numbers and serum Ig and autoantibody levels were markedly diminished, and the decrease in splenic B cell numbers was aggravated. Remarkably, genetic reconstitution of these MHCII-deficient mice with a human DQ8 Tg resulted in a hierarchical restorative pattern. Restoration of splenic B cell numbers was complete; restoration of numbers of splenic IgSC and of serum Ig levels was partial; and restoration of circulating autoantibody levels was virtually non-existent. Thus, MHCII expression has a profound effect on B cells which can be uncoupled from global Ig and autoantibody production in the hCD19-Tg model. This raises the possibility that MHCII affects B cells in a manner that, at least in part, is independent of helper T cell function.
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