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Are kappa and lambda light-chain-bearing B cells functionally distinct?
ImmunologyToday, vol. 6, No. 7, 1985
200
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Are kappa and lambda light-chain-bearing B cells functionally distinct? SIK, It has generally been assumed that kappa and l a m b d a light chain expression by B cells is a r a n d o m event, perhaps most useful in evaluating the 'clonality' of B-cell proliferations. However, the association o f kappa or lambda light chain class in n o n - H o d g k i n ' s lymphomas is not apparently random. In contrast with many other histologic categories of l y m p h o m a t, we 2 and others 3 have noted a marked predominance of lambda chain expression in centrocytic lymphomas (diffuse cleaved cell l y m p h o m a without blasts). Evidence is beginning to emerge of additional possible associations with specific light chain classes. In a small series of lymphocytic l y m p h o m a we noted a possible association of lambda chain expression and single heavy chain isotype expression of I g M (p = 0.03). L a m b d a light chain expression has been associated with rapidly progressive chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), IgD secretion by C L L cells, IgD myeloma, and normal serum IgD 4-6. Bernier et al. have suggested, based on a patient with kappa chain deficiency and recurrent infections, that an 'optimal
Immunosuppression by seminal plasma SIR, K. J a m e s and T. Hargreaves (Immunol. Today 1984, 5 , 3 5 7 - 3 6 3 ) h a v e provided a most n e e d e d and comprehensive overview of the i m m u n o s u p pressive properties o f seminal plasma. In consideration of the possible clinical significance of these effects we would like to c o m m e n t briefly on the possible clinical significance of these properties. W e have suggested that the i m m u n o modulatory activity of seminal plasma may be associated with the aUogeneic enzyme transglutaminase (TGase) and/ or polyamines present in prostatic sections 1. Enzymatic cross linkage of proteins (the formation of ¢-(y-glutamyl)-lysine bonds) on the cell surface, brought about by TGase 2 could contribute to autoregulation and thereby the
i m m u n e response is dependent on a normal complement of kappa and lambda chains' 7. Differences in the predominant light chain types present in plasma cells in Riedel's thyroiditis and H a s h i m o t o ' s thyroiditis have been recently suggested s. M u r i n e studies showing antibody responses of different light chain class predominance to different antigens have also raised the possibility that kappa and lambda bearing cells belong to different functional B-cell subsets 9'1°. T h e presence of a higher frequency o f l a m b d a g e n e ' activation' in murine m a r r o w pre-B cells than in mature B cells u and the lower kappa:lambda ratio in fetal versus adult murine B cells 12also support the possible influence of antigen on type of light chain class expression. W e would therefore suggest that l a m b d a chain-expressing B cells may be distinct from those expressing kappa light chains, and that this difference concerns the selection of functional B-cell clones, in part on the basis of their light chain class. Further studies must be done to investigate these possible functional distinctions as well as to look for other phenotypic associations with any of the n u m e r o u s monoclonal antibodies that recognize specific B-cell subsets13. [T~
References 1 Habeshaw, J. A., Cadey, P. F., Stansfeld, A. G. and Brearley, R. L. (1979) Br. J. Cancer 40, 11-34 2 Swerdlow, S. H., Habeshaw, J. A., Murray, L. J., Dhaliwal, H. S., Lister, T. A. and
induction of tolerance to genetically dissimilar cells within the female reproductive tract s. Concomitantly polyamines may contribute to the suppression of i m m u n e responsiveness towards spermatozoa. As previously suggested, the genetic variability in the concentration and/or avidity of this immunosuppressive material for spermatozoa m a y also provide an explanation, in part, for instances of the development of antisperm antibodies in the female 3, poor i m m u n o logical responsiveness to urogenital infections in the male 4 and the more frequent occurrence of tumours in the prostate than in other male accessory sexual glands 5. Immunosuppression by seminal plasma m a y also be a co-factor to certain diseases characterized by aberrations of immunological responsiveness, e.g. the acquired i m m u n e deficiency syndromO (Ablin, R.J. (1985)Lancet, in press). T h e suggested function of TGase and/or polyamines in immunosurveil-
© 1985,ElsevierSciencePublishersB.V.,Amsterdam 0167- 4919/85/$02.00
3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Stansfeld, A. G. (1983)Am. J. PathoL 113, 181-197 Stein, H., Gerdes, J. and Mason, D. Y. (1982) Clin Haematol 11,531-559 Mellstedt, H., Pettersson, D. and Holm, G. (1978) Acta Med. Scand. 204, 485-489 Stevenson, F. K., Stevenson, G. T. and Tutt, A. L. (1982)J. Exp. Med. 156,337-341 Han, T., Ozer, H., Gavigan, M., Gajera, R., Minowada, J., Bloom, M. L., Sadamori, N., Sandberg, A. A., Gomez, G. A. and Henderson, E. S. (1984) Blood 64, 244-252 Bernier, G. M., Gunderman, J~ R. and Ruymann, F. B. (1972) Blood6, 795-805 Harach, H. R. and Williams, E. D. (1983) Histopathology 7, 739-751 Burldy, L. C., Zaugg, R., Eisen, H. N. and Wortis, H. H. (1982) Eur. J. ImmunoL 12, 1033-1039 Jack, R. S., Imanishi-Kari, T. and Rajewsky, K. (1977)Eur. J. lmmunol. 8, 559-565 Nishlkawa, S-I., Kina, T., Gyotoku, J-I. and Katsura, Y. (1984)J. Exp. Med. 159, 617-622 Hanghton, G., Lanier, L. L. and Babcock, G. F. (1978) Nature (London) 275, 154-157 Murray, J. L., Swerdlow, S. H. and Habeshaw, J. A. (1984) Clin. Exp. Immunol. 399-406 STEVEN H. SWERDLOW, M.D.
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA LESLEY J. MURRAY JOHN A. HABESHAW
I C R F Department of Medical Oncology, St Bartholomew's Hospital, London EC1A 7BE
lance may provide a unifying i m m u n o logic mechanism to what may otherwise appear as antithetical aspects of insemination, pregnancy and malignancy. [ ]
References 1 Ablin, R. J. (1983) IRCS Med. Sci. 11, 766-767 2 Folk, J. E. and Chung, S. I. (1973) Adv. Enzymology 38, 109-191 3 Ablin, R. J. and Gonder, M. J. (1985) in Protidss of the Biological Fluids Volume 32, pp. 271-276, Pergamon Press, Oxford 4 Ablin, R. J. (1977) in UrologicPathology- The Prostate Volume1, pp. 33-98, Lea & Frebiger, Philadelphia 5 Ablin, R. J. (1983) in Benign ProstaticHypertrophy, pp. 73-98, Springer-Verlag, New York RICHARD j. ABLIN JOHN M. BARTKUS MAURICE J. GONDER Department of Urology, Health ScienceCentre, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, Stony Brook,,N Y 11794, USA
200
(....-
)
Are kappa and lambda light-chain-bearing B cells functionally distinct? SIK, It has generally been assumed that kappa and l a m b d a light chain expression by B cells is a r a n d o m event, perhaps most useful in evaluating the 'clonality' of B-cell proliferations. However, the association o f kappa or lambda light chain class in n o n - H o d g k i n ' s lymphomas is not apparently random. In contrast with many other histologic categories of l y m p h o m a t, we 2 and others 3 have noted a marked predominance of lambda chain expression in centrocytic lymphomas (diffuse cleaved cell l y m p h o m a without blasts). Evidence is beginning to emerge of additional possible associations with specific light chain classes. In a small series of lymphocytic l y m p h o m a we noted a possible association of lambda chain expression and single heavy chain isotype expression of I g M (p = 0.03). L a m b d a light chain expression has been associated with rapidly progressive chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), IgD secretion by C L L cells, IgD myeloma, and normal serum IgD 4-6. Bernier et al. have suggested, based on a patient with kappa chain deficiency and recurrent infections, that an 'optimal
Immunosuppression by seminal plasma SIR, K. J a m e s and T. Hargreaves (Immunol. Today 1984, 5 , 3 5 7 - 3 6 3 ) h a v e provided a most n e e d e d and comprehensive overview of the i m m u n o s u p pressive properties o f seminal plasma. In consideration of the possible clinical significance of these effects we would like to c o m m e n t briefly on the possible clinical significance of these properties. W e have suggested that the i m m u n o modulatory activity of seminal plasma may be associated with the aUogeneic enzyme transglutaminase (TGase) and/ or polyamines present in prostatic sections 1. Enzymatic cross linkage of proteins (the formation of ¢-(y-glutamyl)-lysine bonds) on the cell surface, brought about by TGase 2 could contribute to autoregulation and thereby the
i m m u n e response is dependent on a normal complement of kappa and lambda chains' 7. Differences in the predominant light chain types present in plasma cells in Riedel's thyroiditis and H a s h i m o t o ' s thyroiditis have been recently suggested s. M u r i n e studies showing antibody responses of different light chain class predominance to different antigens have also raised the possibility that kappa and lambda bearing cells belong to different functional B-cell subsets 9'1°. T h e presence of a higher frequency o f l a m b d a g e n e ' activation' in murine m a r r o w pre-B cells than in mature B cells u and the lower kappa:lambda ratio in fetal versus adult murine B cells 12also support the possible influence of antigen on type of light chain class expression. W e would therefore suggest that l a m b d a chain-expressing B cells may be distinct from those expressing kappa light chains, and that this difference concerns the selection of functional B-cell clones, in part on the basis of their light chain class. Further studies must be done to investigate these possible functional distinctions as well as to look for other phenotypic associations with any of the n u m e r o u s monoclonal antibodies that recognize specific B-cell subsets13. [T~
References 1 Habeshaw, J. A., Cadey, P. F., Stansfeld, A. G. and Brearley, R. L. (1979) Br. J. Cancer 40, 11-34 2 Swerdlow, S. H., Habeshaw, J. A., Murray, L. J., Dhaliwal, H. S., Lister, T. A. and
induction of tolerance to genetically dissimilar cells within the female reproductive tract s. Concomitantly polyamines may contribute to the suppression of i m m u n e responsiveness towards spermatozoa. As previously suggested, the genetic variability in the concentration and/or avidity of this immunosuppressive material for spermatozoa m a y also provide an explanation, in part, for instances of the development of antisperm antibodies in the female 3, poor i m m u n o logical responsiveness to urogenital infections in the male 4 and the more frequent occurrence of tumours in the prostate than in other male accessory sexual glands 5. Immunosuppression by seminal plasma m a y also be a co-factor to certain diseases characterized by aberrations of immunological responsiveness, e.g. the acquired i m m u n e deficiency syndromO (Ablin, R.J. (1985)Lancet, in press). T h e suggested function of TGase and/or polyamines in immunosurveil-
© 1985,ElsevierSciencePublishersB.V.,Amsterdam 0167- 4919/85/$02.00
3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Stansfeld, A. G. (1983)Am. J. PathoL 113, 181-197 Stein, H., Gerdes, J. and Mason, D. Y. (1982) Clin Haematol 11,531-559 Mellstedt, H., Pettersson, D. and Holm, G. (1978) Acta Med. Scand. 204, 485-489 Stevenson, F. K., Stevenson, G. T. and Tutt, A. L. (1982)J. Exp. Med. 156,337-341 Han, T., Ozer, H., Gavigan, M., Gajera, R., Minowada, J., Bloom, M. L., Sadamori, N., Sandberg, A. A., Gomez, G. A. and Henderson, E. S. (1984) Blood 64, 244-252 Bernier, G. M., Gunderman, J~ R. and Ruymann, F. B. (1972) Blood6, 795-805 Harach, H. R. and Williams, E. D. (1983) Histopathology 7, 739-751 Burldy, L. C., Zaugg, R., Eisen, H. N. and Wortis, H. H. (1982) Eur. J. ImmunoL 12, 1033-1039 Jack, R. S., Imanishi-Kari, T. and Rajewsky, K. (1977)Eur. J. lmmunol. 8, 559-565 Nishlkawa, S-I., Kina, T., Gyotoku, J-I. and Katsura, Y. (1984)J. Exp. Med. 159, 617-622 Hanghton, G., Lanier, L. L. and Babcock, G. F. (1978) Nature (London) 275, 154-157 Murray, J. L., Swerdlow, S. H. and Habeshaw, J. A. (1984) Clin. Exp. Immunol. 399-406 STEVEN H. SWERDLOW, M.D.
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA LESLEY J. MURRAY JOHN A. HABESHAW
I C R F Department of Medical Oncology, St Bartholomew's Hospital, London EC1A 7BE
lance may provide a unifying i m m u n o logic mechanism to what may otherwise appear as antithetical aspects of insemination, pregnancy and malignancy. [ ]
References 1 Ablin, R. J. (1983) IRCS Med. Sci. 11, 766-767 2 Folk, J. E. and Chung, S. I. (1973) Adv. Enzymology 38, 109-191 3 Ablin, R. J. and Gonder, M. J. (1985) in Protidss of the Biological Fluids Volume 32, pp. 271-276, Pergamon Press, Oxford 4 Ablin, R. J. (1977) in UrologicPathology- The Prostate Volume1, pp. 33-98, Lea & Frebiger, Philadelphia 5 Ablin, R. J. (1983) in Benign ProstaticHypertrophy, pp. 73-98, Springer-Verlag, New York RICHARD j. ABLIN JOHN M. BARTKUS MAURICE J. GONDER Department of Urology, Health ScienceCentre, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, Stony Brook,,N Y 11794, USA