Immunologic tolerance to DNA in B cell lines from both normal and autoimmune mice

We examine whether B cell lines enriched for DNA specificity from either autoimmune (BWF1) or normal mice (Balb/c) can be rendered unresponsive to autoantigen in terms of the specific suppression of direct antibody-forming cells to DNA. These B cell lines were both Lyt-1 positive and negative. Preincubation with oligonucleotide, covalently linked to mouse gamma-globulin, specifically suppressed the antigen-driven response elicited by DNA horse red blood cells in B cell lines from both strains of mice. There is a 5-fold difference in susceptibility to DNA-specific tolerance induction between B cell lines of BWF1 and Balb/c mice. Thus, B cells from autoimmune mice do not appear to have an inherent absolute defect in being rendered tolerant to autoantigen, but are relatively less susceptible to DNA-specific tolerance than nonautoimmune cell lines.