BALB/c.CBA/N mice carrying the defective Btk(xid) gene are resistant to pristane-induced plasmacytomagenesis.

The X-chromosome from the CBA/N mouse which carries the defective Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk) allele (Xxid) has been introgressively backcrossed onto the plasmacytoma (PCT) induction-susceptible BALB/cAN. Inbred BALB/c.CBA/N-xid/xid (C.CBA/N) mice raised and maintained in our conventional colony were given three 0.5 ml injections of pristane and were highly refractory to PCT induction. Only one PCT was found among 59 mice followed for > or =300 days. Twenty mice were examined at day 200 for foci of plasma cells in the oil granuloma. Ten mice had small foci of plasma cells, most of which were plasmacytotic, embedded in the inflammatory oil granuloma. In one there were multiple foci, but most of the mice had only one or two foci. F1 hybrid XxidY males derived from CBA/N females crossed to BALB/cAnPt were also resistant to PCT induction, while heterozygous and homozygous XY males were susceptible. C.CBA/N mice can develop extensive mucosal plasma cells as well as plasma cell accumulations in oil granuloma tissue, but the precursors of these plasma cells do not give rise to PCT in genetically susceptible hosts. The failure of C.CBA/N mice to develop PCT is probably due to the elimination of B cell clones that can be perpetuated by repeated exposure to thymus-independent type 2 antigens.