Physiology of IgD. IV. Enhancement of antibody production in mice bearing IgD-secreting plasmacytomas

Immune responses to trinitrophenylated hemocyanin (TNP-KLH), Ficoll (TNP-Ficoll), and Brucella abortus (TNP-BA) were examined in BALB/c mice bearing subcutaneous transplants of TEPC-1017 and TEPC-1033, the two known IgD-secreting BALB/c plasmacytomas. Both primary and secondary 19S and 7S splenic plaque-forming cell (PFC) responses in spleen to intravenously injected TNP-KLH were enhanced three to fivefold. Primary responses to TNP-Ficoll were 1.5-2 times higher than in control mice (particularly the 7S PFC response). Primary responses to TNP-BA were enhanced by TEPC-1017 but suppressed by TEPC-1033, while secondary responses to TNP-BA were enhanced three to sevenfold by both tumors. Intraperitoneal injections of ascites fluid from mice bearing TEPC-1017 or TEPC-1033, or of IgD isolated from such ascites fluid, caused a similar enhancement of the primary response to TNP-KLH, as did the tumor itself, particularly when injected approximately 1 wk before antigen injection. IgD-containing ascites fluid had no effect on the response of athymic (nu/nu) BALB/c mice to TNP-KLH. These findings suggest the existence of an IgD-responsive immunoregulatory T cell.