In vivo polyclonal B-lymphocyte activation elicited by murine viruses.

Viruses such as lactate dehydrogenase-elevating virus and adenovirus induce in vivo a polyclonal activation of murine B lymphocytes, followed by a marked increase in the production of immunoglobulin G2a (IgG2a). The role of T lymphocytes in this phenomenon was studied by injection of an anti-CD4 monoclonal antibody able to inhibit the T-helper function. This treatment profoundly depressed the production of IgG2a, whereas it had no effect on the proliferation of B cells. Activated B cells obtained from such infected and treated mice remained able to produce various immunoglobulin isotypes after exposure to an appropriate stimulus. In particular, gamma interferon, which is known to be secreted after viral infection, induced the production of IgG2a. These observations support the hypothesis that the influence of viruses on the switch of immunoglobulins is mediated by T-helper lymphocytes.