Interleukin 5 (IL-5) has been suggested to be involved in the growth and differentiation of B cells and eosinophils. Especially, Ly-1+ B cells, which have been considered to produce autoantibodies, are selectively developed by this lymphokine in long-term bone marrow culture. To envisage the possible engagement of IL-5 in the development of these cells in vivo, transgenic mice carrying the mouse IL-5 gene ligated with a metallothionein promoter were generated. Transgenic mice carrying the IL-5 gene exhibited elevated levels of IL-5 in the serum and an increase in the levels of serum IgM and IgA. A massive eosinophilia in peripheral blood, bone marrow, and spleen, and an infiltration of muscle and liver with eosinophils, were observed. When cadmium-containing saline was injected intraperitoneally into transgenic mice, IL-5 production was augmented about five times within 24 h, and a distinctive Ly-1+ B cell population became apparent in the spleen after 5 d. IL-5 receptors were detected on those cells by monoclonal antibodies against IL-5 receptors. Another interesting finding in these transgenic mice was an increase in polyreactive anti-DNA antibodies of IgM class. It is suggested, therefore, that aberrant expression of the IL-5 gene may induce accumulation of Ly-1+ B cells and eosinophils. Furthermore, this IL-5 transgenic mouse can be a model mouse for eosinophilia, and we can determine the role of IL-5 in the differentiation of Ly-1+ B cells and eosinophils by using this mouse.
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1 February 1991
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February 01 1991
Transgenic mice expressing a B cell growth and differentiation factor gene (interleukin 5) develop eosinophilia and autoantibody production.
A Tominaga,
A Tominaga
Institute for Medical Immunology, Kumamoto University Medical School, Japan.
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S Takaki,
S Takaki
Institute for Medical Immunology, Kumamoto University Medical School, Japan.
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N Koyama,
N Koyama
Institute for Medical Immunology, Kumamoto University Medical School, Japan.
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S Katoh,
S Katoh
Institute for Medical Immunology, Kumamoto University Medical School, Japan.
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R Matsumoto,
R Matsumoto
Institute for Medical Immunology, Kumamoto University Medical School, Japan.
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M Migita,
M Migita
Institute for Medical Immunology, Kumamoto University Medical School, Japan.
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Y Hitoshi,
Y Hitoshi
Institute for Medical Immunology, Kumamoto University Medical School, Japan.
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Y Hosoya,
Y Hosoya
Institute for Medical Immunology, Kumamoto University Medical School, Japan.
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S Yamauchi,
S Yamauchi
Institute for Medical Immunology, Kumamoto University Medical School, Japan.
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Y Kanai
Y Kanai
Institute for Medical Immunology, Kumamoto University Medical School, Japan.
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A Tominaga
Institute for Medical Immunology, Kumamoto University Medical School, Japan.
S Takaki
Institute for Medical Immunology, Kumamoto University Medical School, Japan.
N Koyama
Institute for Medical Immunology, Kumamoto University Medical School, Japan.
S Katoh
Institute for Medical Immunology, Kumamoto University Medical School, Japan.
R Matsumoto
Institute for Medical Immunology, Kumamoto University Medical School, Japan.
M Migita
Institute for Medical Immunology, Kumamoto University Medical School, Japan.
Y Hitoshi
Institute for Medical Immunology, Kumamoto University Medical School, Japan.
Y Hosoya
Institute for Medical Immunology, Kumamoto University Medical School, Japan.
S Yamauchi
Institute for Medical Immunology, Kumamoto University Medical School, Japan.
Y Kanai
Institute for Medical Immunology, Kumamoto University Medical School, Japan.
Online ISSN: 1540-9538
Print ISSN: 0022-1007
J Exp Med (1991) 173 (2): 429–437.
Citation
A Tominaga, S Takaki, N Koyama, S Katoh, R Matsumoto, M Migita, Y Hitoshi, Y Hosoya, S Yamauchi, Y Kanai; Transgenic mice expressing a B cell growth and differentiation factor gene (interleukin 5) develop eosinophilia and autoantibody production.. J Exp Med 1 February 1991; 173 (2): 429–437. doi: https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.173.2.429
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