Natural autoreactive H-2-specific serum antibodies in a group of BALB/cBy (H-2d) mice

Natural autoreactive H-2-specific antibodies were detected by lymphocytotoxic test in sera of 15 BALB/cBy (H-2d) mice maintained in the same cage. The antibodies could be detected only for a short period of time; they reacted strongly with H-2d and H-2s and weakly with H-2k,q,r cells. Such antibodies could not be identified in sera of other groups of mice of the same strain maintained in the same environment. All serum-positive mice had a shorter life span than control mice. However, neither a real link between the antibodies and the disease nor a clear understanding of the disease was achieved.