Genetic analysis of low lambda 1 chain production in mice.

Several commonly used strains of laboratory mice from Charles River Laboratories were found to produce extremely low or undetectable levels of serum immunoglobulins bearing lambda 1 light chain (lambda 1 Ig). Individual CF-1, CD-1, and CFW random-bred mice were tested for serum lambda 1 levels, lambda 1-specific anti-NP responses, and genomic polymorphisms at the lambda 1 locus. In all cases, a complete correlation among these parameters was observed. The results indicated that nearly all CFW, greater than 70% of CD-1 but none of the CF-1 mice produced low levels of lambda 1 light chain. The low lambda 1 Ig production is due to a genetic defect either similar or identical to that observed in SJL mice. The data suggest that the lambda 1 locus of CD-1, CFW, and SJL mice are derived from a common ancestor. We also surveyed lambda 1 Ig production in a series of wild mice. Mice producing low lambda 1 Ig were frequently observed. The wild mice with low lambda 1 Ig levels were captured in diverse geographic areas, including Europe, Middle East, Asia, and South America. Preliminary study suggests that the defect in the wild mice is different from that of SJL, CD-1, or CFW mice and implies that other mechanisms regulate lambda 1 Ig production in wild mice.