Defective dendritic cell accessory function in NZB/W F1 hybrid mice.

The proliferative response of NZB/W F1 hybrid mice when activated by sodium periodate (NaIO4) was found to be markedly defective as compared to the response in control NZW mice. This defect was observed in both 4 month old female mice and in 8-10 month old male mice. To determine whether the defect was an intrinsic T cell defect or an accessory cell defect, splenic dendritic cells (DC) were purified and their ability to activate enriched T cells after NaIO4 stimulation was assessed. In mixing experiments it was observed that normal NZW dendritic cells could restore the response of NZB/W F1 hybrid T cells whereas addition of NZB/W F1 dendritic cells to NZW T cells resulted in defective 3H-thymidine incorporation after NaIO4 stimulation. These results indicate that accessory DC of NZB/W F1 mice are defective and unable to support T cell responses to the mitogen NaIO4.