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Immunoglobulin Synthesis by Human Lymphoid Tissues: Normal Bone Marrow as a Major Site of IgG Production¹

From the Hematology Division, Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation, La Jolla, California; The Departments of Hematology and Pathology, Naval Hospital, San Diego, California; and the Department of Medicine, UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, California

Abstract

The Fab-anti-Fab assay for human IgG quantitation is used to measure in vitro IgG production by lymphocytes from five normal human lymphoid tissues: bone marrow, spleen, blood, lymph node and thymus. Synthesis of IgG was found to proceed at a constant rate over the 10-day culture period; production could be prevented by hypothermia or mitomycin-C. When corrected for total lymphoid cells, the bone marrow was noted to produce greater than 95% of the IgG synthesized by the organs which were evaluated. Secondary antigenic stimulation with smallpox vaccine resulted in accelerated IgG synthesis by blood and splenic lymphocytes; conversely, no response was noted in cultures containing marrow or thymic cells. It is concluded that the bone marrow must be considered as a major site of IgG production under normal circumstances; however, the inability of the bone marrow to respond to antigenic stimulation suggests that the appropriate quantity or quality of cells is lacking in this organ for optimal antigenic recognition and/or processing.

Footnotes

¹ This work was supported by grants from the United States Public Health Service (CA-11800 and AM-16125) and the Leona Cantor Research Fund.

² Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation, 476 Prospect St., La Jolla, California 92037.

³ Naval Hospital, San Diego, California 92134.

⁴ UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 90024.