Casein-induced experimental amyloidosis. VI. A pathogenic role for b cells in the murine model.

The relationship between cellular (B-cell) responses and the development of casein-induced amyloidosis was explored. The main findings are: (1) B-cell abnormalities are more pronounced in amyloid susceptible CBA/J than in amyloid resistant A/J mice; these include increased mitogen responses to SIII, PI:C and DXS, and enhanced primary immune responses to T-independent antigens; (2) CBA/J amyloid spleen cell suspensions appear to be enriched with antibody dependent killer cells and precursors of antibody-forming cells; these abnormalities are not seen in casein treated A/J mice. This hitherto unrecognized proliferation of immunoblasts in casein-treated CBA/J animals raises the possibility that B cell-macrophage interaction may play an important role in the pathogenesis of amyloid disease.