Effect of anti-Ia treatment on the production of anti-DNA antibody by NZB mice.

A cell transfer system was used to study the effect of anti-Ia antibodies on anti-DNA-producing B cells. B cells from autoimmune New Zealand Black (NZB) mice were necessary and sufficient to transfer anti-DNA antibody production to congenic NZB. xid recipients. Anti-Ia treatment of either donors or recipients led to a significant reduction in the number of B cells secreting anti-DNA antibody. This effect was detectable after as little as 3 days of treatment and persisted for at least 1 month after the cessation of therapy. In this system, we could find no evidence of suppressor cell induction. These data suggest that anti-Ia antibodies directly suppress autoantibody-producing B lymphocytes.