Defective B cell tolerance in adult (NZB X MZW)F1 mice

Hapten-specific tolerance was induced in vitro by trinitrophenyl-human gamma globulin (TNP32HGG) to a comparable degree in B cells from adult autoimmune (NZB X NZW)F1 (B/W) mice and normal BDF1, CBA/J, and DBA/1J mice. When a lower epitope density tolerogen (TNP7HGG) was used, B/W mice were significantly less sensitive than normal mice to the induction of B cell tolerance. This finding of defective B cell tolerance in adult B/W mice is consistent with previous reports that document other B cell abnormalities that may relate to the expression of autoimmune disease.