Synthesis of lambda 1, lambda 2, and lambda 3 light chains by mouse spleen B cells.

To determine whether the infrequency of immunoglobulins with lambda 3 light chains is due to a corresponding scarcity of lambda 3 B cells, the production of the various lambda chain subtypes (lambda 1, lambda 2, and lambda 3) by normal spleen cells was compared. The results showed that lambda 1, lambda 2, and lambda 3 chains are produced in a ratio of about 1.0: 0.7 : 0.3, respectively. The argument is made that lambda 1, lambda 2, and lambda 3 B cells exist in the same ratio. Results obtained with neonatal and nude mouse spleen cells suggest that these small differences are not due to stimulatory effects of environmental antigens or regulatory T cells. The much greater disparity in the abundance of lambda subtypes in various antibody responses and serum Ig suggests that lambda 1 B cells may be more likely than lambda 2 or lambda 3 B cells to differentiate into antibody-secreting plasma cells.