Collagen-induced arthritis: antibody production by lymphocytes in vitro.

The in vitro production of anti-bovine type II collagen antibodies by lymphocytes from rats immunised with native bovine type II collagen and adjuvant was measured using a solid-phase enzyme-linked immunoassay. Antibodies to native bovine type II collagen could be detected in culture supernatants from the lymphocytes of rats only if they had been immunised with native bovine type II collagen, but not if immunised with native type I collagen, with keyhole limpet haemocyanin, with buffer or if un-immunised. The antibodies produced also bound to native rat, human and chick type II collagens, to native bovine 1 alpha 2 alpha 3 alpha collagen but not to native type I collagen. The amount of antibody in the cultures was altered by the presence of serum from type II collagen immunised rats or by the presence of either cyclohexamide, colchicine, Concanavalin A, catalase or lipopolysaccharide. Pre-treatment of the lymphocytes with mitomycin-C reduced the amount of anti-collagen antibody. This system can be used to investigate mechanisms controlling anti-collagen antibody production.