Antibodies to murine complement receptor 1 and 2 can inhibit the antibody response in vivo without inhibiting T helper cell induction.

Administration to mice of mAb against CR1/CR2 inhibits the primary and secondary in vivo Ab response. We have addressed the question of whether induction of T helper cells, in addition to B cells, is inhibited by this treatment. A hapten-carrier system was used, where one group of mice was immunized with a monoclonal CR1/CR2-specific Ab and Ag (SRBC or keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH)), another with Ag alone, and a third group left nonimmunized. After 2 to 15 wk, spleen cells from these mice were transferred to irradiated syngeneic recipients, together with Ag coupled to the hapten 4-hydroxy-5-iodo-3-nitro-phenacetyl (NIP). The number of NIP-specific, IgG-producing B cells, which in this system is an indication of T cell priming, was determined in an ELISPOT assay. Although the primary SRBC- or KLH-specific IgG response was inhibited markedly (74-98%) by CR1/CR2-specific Ab, no decrease in the number of NIP-specific IgG-producing B cells was detected after secondary immunization. In sharp contrast, the SRBC- or KLH-specific secondary IgG responses were low or undetectable. These findings suggest that CR1/CR2-specific Ab can inhibit the primary Ab response without affecting T helper cells and that the induction of B cell memory is decreased markedly by this treatment.