Bacterial lipopolysaccharide causes variable deposits of diverse immunoglobulin isotypes in kidneys of lupus-prone mice.

We investigated the role of immunoglobulin isotypes in the exacerbation of lupus nephritis associated with exposure to bacterial lipopolysaccharide. The data indicate that enhanced polyclonal B-cell activation and exacerbated autoimmune disease evoked by lipopolysaccharide are associated with an increase in the concentration of isotypes in plasma and in renal eluate, that this isotype response is polyclonal and preferential but not restrictive, that all B cells are responsive but all are not equally sensitive to the effects of lipopolysaccharide, and that some expanded isotypes may be more nephritogenic in certain strains of lupus-prone mice.