Requirements for the production of high-titre C3 nephritic factor (NEF) antibody in vitro.

C3 nephritic factor (NEF) is an IgG autoantibody directed against neoantigenic determinants of the alternative C3 convertase (C3b.Bb). Structural and functional studies require important amounts of this antibody, which are difficult to obtain from patients' sera. We have developed a method for increasing NEF production in vitro. Epstein-Barr virus is a herpes virus which transforms B lymphocytes. Some authors were able to induce the production of NEF in vitro after infection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). These works were preformed without any previous cellular selection of B cells. We have performed a method of preselecting antigen-binding cells prior to EBV transformation. Non-preselected cells yielded 0.16 U/million cells in culture (U/M) of NEF antibody, whereas enriched cells for NEF antibody in eliminated 8 U/M (sheep erythrocytes coated with anti-IgG, A, M). Specific NEF synthesis can be increased, in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients by in vitro stimulation with the antigens recognized by NEF [C3b.Bb, 21,000 MW protein from patients' E membranes and 26,000 MW protein from sheep E membranes (ShE)]. The highest stimulation is induced by the C3b.Bb and by 26,000 MW protein, 21,000 MW protein had lowest stimulatory effect. In this work also we have shown that patients having NEF antibody in sera have an increase of the CD5-CD19 subset, when compared with the controls.