Null cells in the mouse possess membrane immunoglobulins

Abstract

Null cells lacking typical T and B cell surface markers were isolated from the spleens of congenitally athymic mice by using either nylon wool or Sepharose macrobeads conjugated with rabbit antibody to mouse IgM to remove B lymphocytes. Although these null cells were negative for surface immunoglobulin by the criterion of immunofluorescence by using rabbit antisera to mouse heavy or light immunoglobulin chains, surface immunoglobulins were readily demonstrable by two alternative and independent techniques. First, by using chicken antibody to the (Fab')2 fragment of mouse IgG, nearly all null cells were positive for immunofluorescence. Second, immunoglobulins could be detected in lysates of null cells radioiodinated by the lactoperoxidase-catalyzed reaction. Analysis of the surface immunoglobulins of null cells by radioimmunoassay and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate suggested that they are 1) qualitatively similar to those of B cells and 2) present in amounts between 10 and 30% of those of B cells.