Related Experiment Videos
Endogenous immunoglobulin expression in mu transgenic mice
J Iacomini1, N Yannoutsos, S Bandyopadhay
1Tufts University School of Medicine, Department of Pathology, Boston, MA.
International Immunology
|February 1, 1991
Summary
Transgenic mice with a functional mu heavy chain showed a skewed immunoglobulin repertoire, favoring specific VH families and increasing lambda light chain expression. This indicates the transgene impacts B cell development and gene rearrangement.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Understanding B cell development is crucial for immunology.
- Immunoglobulin gene rearrangement is a complex process.
- Transgenic models offer insights into gene regulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of a functional mu heavy chain transgene on endogenous immunoglobulin gene rearrangement and expression in mice.
- To identify novel effects of transgenes on B cell development.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of transgenic mice (M54) carrying a functional mu heavy chain transgene.
- Examination of B cell blasts and hybridomas from LPS-stimulated mice.
- Assessment of Abelson-MuLV transformed pre-B cells.
Main Results:
- The expressed endogenous VH repertoire in transgenic mice is skewed towards JH-proximal VH families (VH7183 and Q52).
- An increased frequency of B cells expressing lambda light chain genes was observed in transgenic mice.
- VH to DJH rearrangement was more inhibited than D to JH rearrangement in Abelson-MuLV transformed pre-B cells.
Conclusions:
- The mu heavy chain transgene skews the expressed VH repertoire by inhibiting VH to DJH rearrangement.
- The transgene promotes the expansion of B cells with limited VH and lambda light chain gene expression.
- These findings provide novel insights into the regulation of immunoglobulin gene rearrangement during B cell development.