Nitschke L, Kosco MH, Kohler G, Lamers MC:
Immunoglobulin D-deficient mice can mount normal immune responses to
thymus-independent and -dependent antigens.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of
America 1993 Mar 1;90(5):1887-91
ABSTRACT
To examine the in vivo function of IgD we generated mice deficient
for IgD by gene targeting. The IgD-mice show a reduced B-cell
compartment with 30-50% less B cells in the spleen and lymph nodes
but show a normal pre-B-cell compartment. The surface-IgD- B cells
express two to three times more surface IgM than B cells of control
animals. Serum concentrations of the immunoglobulin isotypes of IgD-
mice are almost normal, indicating that surface-IgD expression is
not necessary for class switching of B cells. Immunization
experiments showed that IgD- mice could respond well to
thymus-dependent and -independent antigens. After immunization
normal germinal centers developed in the IgD- mice. These data
suggest that IgD is not necessary for the induction of immune
responses but may be important in homeostasis of cells in the B-cell
compartment.
