Influence of host environment on growth of clonal CD5+B (Lyl+B) cells

Autoimmune NZB mice have increased percentages of CD5+B (Lyl+B) cells in both the spleen and peritoneum. We have previously reported that as NZB mice age they develop a clonal population of hyperdiploid CD5+B cells in the spleen. These cells can readily be transplanted into unirradiated recipients. The growth characteristics of such transplanted hyperdiploid NZB spleen cells were examined in different recipient strains to determine if the immunological status of the host environments affected the growth of the clonal CD5+B cells. Young NZB and NZB.xid recipients (lacking hyperdiploid CD5+B cells) allowed growth and expansion of unpassaged CD5+B cells derived from primary NZB mice. Similarly, (NZBxDBA/2) and (NZBxBALB/c) F1 recipients allowed for expansion of CD5+B cell clones from primary sources. In a separate experiment, T cell-depleted NZB spleen cells containing a hyperdiploid CD5+B cell clone were transferred to SCID mice. The SCID environment supported the growth of the primary clone. None of these recipients normally have elevated CD5+B cells, yet these recipients allowed growth of primary transferred hyperdiploid cells. However, a difference in the ability of these recipient strains in their ability to expand multiply passaged CD5+B cell clones was observed. These results indicate that while hyperdiploid CD5+B cells are difficult to be maintained in culture, they can readily be passaged in vivo. The host environment may provide growth factors or signals for endogenous growth factors. Although the CD5+B clones arise initially in a hyperactive autoimmune environment, a hyperimmune environment is not necessary to support their growth. Transferred CD5+B cells affect the recipient environment and reduce the percentages of normal B cells.