REDUCED HUMORAL IMMUNITY IN UREMIC MICE GENETICALLY SELECTED FOR HIGHANTIBODY-RESPONSE

Biozzi's Selection IV-A mice, genetically selected for 25 generations for high and low antibody response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC), 2- 3 months old, were made uremic by subtotal nephrectomy and characteriz ed for antibody production against the selection antigen. T cell activ ity was evaluated in vitro by lymphocyte proliferation and interleukin 2 (IL 2) production in response to the superantigen staphylococcal en terotoxin B (SEE). Total and IgM antibody titers (log(2)) were similar in uremic and non-uremic low responder mice (total antibody: 4.0 +/- 0.6 vs 3.6 +/- 0.6; IgG: 30 +/- 0.7 vs 2.4 +/- 0.4), while uremic high responders presented a blunted humoral immune response to SRBC when c ompared with non-uremic animals (total antibody: 10.8 +/- 1.6 ris 13.0 +/- 0.2; IgG: 10.3 +/- 1.5 vs 11.7 +/- 0.3). T cell proliferation and IL 2 production were similar in uremic and non-uremic groups after SE E stimulation. The results indicate a genetic effect on sensitivity to humoral immune response modulation by uremic status, with deficient a ntibody production despite a normal T cell proliferative response to m itogen stimulation in short-duration renal failure in high responder m ice.