EVIDENCE FOR SERUM FACTORS MODULATING ANTIBODY-PRODUCTION IN NORMAL AND MACULAR MICE

The macular mutant mouse is a model of Menkes' kinky hair disease, whi ch is characterized by a deficiency of ceruloplasmin in the serum. In hemizygotic mice (ml/y), the antibody production against sheep red blo od cells (SRBC) was decreased. Treatment with normal (+/y) mouse serum increased in a dose-dependent manner the antibody response of ml/y mo use spleen cells in vitro. However, +/y mouse serum had no effect on /y mouse spleen cells, even at high doses up to 5%. In contrast, ml/y mouse serum decreased antibody production in +/y mouse spleen cells in a dose-dependent manner. Antibody production in +/y mouse spleen cell s decreased with time, after pretreatment with ml/y mouse serum. Howev er, serum from ml/y mice injected with ceruloplasmin did not decrease antibody production in +/y mouse spleen cells but rather increased it in ml/y mouse spleen cells. Ceruloplasmin had no effect on the product ion of antibodies against SRBC in ml/y and +/y mouse spleen cells in v itro. These findings suggest that one or more enhancers of antibody pr oduction exist in normal mouse serum and that one or more suppressors of normal antibody production exist in ml/y mouse serum. It is propose d that the activities of these factors in serum may be regulated by ce ruloplasmin.