Suppressive Role of B Cells in Chronic Colitis of  T Cell Receptor α Mutant Mice

The role of antibodies (Abs) in the development of chronic colitis in T cell receptor (TCR)-α(−/−) mice was explored by creating double mutant mice (TCR-α(−/−) × immunoglobulin (Ig)μ(−/−)), which lack B cells. TCR-α(−/−) × Igμ(−/−) mice spontaneously developed colitis at an earlier age, and the colitis was more severe than in TCR-α(−/−) mice. Colitis was induced in recombination-activating gene-1 (RAG-1(−/−)) mice by the transfer of mesenteric lymph node (MLN) cells from TCR-α(−/−) × Igμ(−/−) mice. When purified B cells from TCR-α(−/−) mice were mixed with MLN cells before cell transfer, colitis did not develop in RAG-1(−/−) mice. Administration of the purified Ig from TCR-α(−/−) mice and a mixture of monoclonal autoAbs reactive with colonic epithelial cells led to attenuation of colitis in TCR-α(−/−) × Igμ(−/−) mice. Apoptotic cells were increased in the colon, MLN, and spleen of TCR-α(−/−) × Igμ(−/−) mice as compared to Igμ(−/−) mice and TCR-α(−/−) mice. Administration of the purified Ig from TCR-α(−/−) mice into TCR-α(−/−) × Igμ(−/−) mice led to decrease in the number of apoptotic cells. These findings suggest that although B cells are not required for the initiation of colitis, B cells and Igs (autoAbs) can suppress colitis, presumably by affecting the clearance of apoptotic cells.