Facb rosette-forming cells in mice: studies on their functional significance.

Lymphocytes bearing receptors for the Facb fragment of IgG have been shown previously to be elevated in the peripheral blood of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The generation of these cells and their possible functional role in immune regulation have been investigated in mice. Facb rosette-forming (Facb-R+) lymphocytes were found to be elevated in the spleens of mice mounting a secondary plaque-forming cell (PFC) response to sheep erythrocytes but not during the primary response. Splenic Facb-R+ lymphocytes were also elevated when a cross-reacting antigen (goat erythrocytes) was used for the secondary immunization but not when a non-cross-reacting antigen (chicken erythrocytes) was used. Both primary and secondary immunization with bacterial lipopolysaccharide resulted in elevation of splenic Facb-R+ lymphocytes. Administration of antigen-specific Facb fragment in conjunction with antigen (calf erythrocytes) produced a suppression of the secondary PFC response. However, F(ab')2 fragments produced no such effect. This suppressive effect was shown to be antigen-specific since administration of Facb fragment of anti-calf erythrocyte IgG had no suppressive effect on the secondary PFC response to sheep erythrocytes. No change in splenic Facb-R+ lymphocytes was observed during delayed hypersensitivity responses to either sheep erythrocytes or the contact-sensitizing agent oxazolone. These results indicate that Facb-R+ lymphocytes are generated during secondary humoral responses but not cell-mediated immune responses, and suggest that these cells may exert a suppressive influence on antibody production. These findings are discussed in relation to the occurrence of these cells in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.