Age-associated changes of the characteristics of autoantibody-forming cells in NZB/W mice

Age-associated change of characteristics of anti-double-stranded (ds) DNA antibody-forming cells in the NZB/W mouse spleen was studied. These cells in mice aged 9-11 months, which develop high titer anti-ds DNA antibody formation, produced antibody without the help of T cells or pokeweed mitogen (PWM), adhered to Sephadex G-10, and sedimented to the bottom when applied to Ficoll-Paque solution. On the other hand, these cells in relatively young (7- to 8-month-old) mice, which develop low titer anti-ds DNA antibody formation, produced antibody maximally with the help of T cells and PWM, adhered little to Sephadex G-10, and fractionated into intermediate lymphocyte fractions when applied to Ficoll-Paque solution. Collectively, anti-ds DNA antibody-forming cells in NZB/W mice were shown to change their characteristics with age.