Endogenous Ig production in mu transgenic mice. II. Anti-Ig reactivity and apparent double allotype expression.

In 17.2.25 mu transgenic mice (M54, M95), many of the expressed Ig, whether encoded by the transgene or endogenous H chain genes, react with Ig. IgM antibodies encoded by the 17.2.25 mu transgene transfected into J558L myeloma cells are also Ig reactive. In addition, anti-Ig reactivity was manifested by antibodies of the IgM, IgG, and IgA isotypes from the transgenic mice, suggesting that this characteristic reactivity is associated with VH and VL domains of these antibodies. These antibodies bind the (Fab')2 fragment of mouse IgG1 mAb known to be directed against C mu allotypic determinants. This finding could account for the so called "double producer" B cells found in mu transgenic mice and previously identified in serologic assays conducted with two different anti-mu allotypic reagents. In transgenic mice, a high frequency of the antibodies encoded by the transgene or endogenous H chain genes react with polyclonal and monoclonal antiidiotypic antibodies raised against the 17.2.25 Id. The idiotypic and/or antiidiotypic reactivity displayed by antibodies derived from these transgenic mice is similar to that of antibodies expressed by neonatal B cells of normal mice. Thus, our data suggest that transgene expression can play an important role in shaping the endogenous repertoire of antibody specificities.