NZB/Bl mice produce throughout life cold reacting antibodies (CRA) with specificity to the I-erythrocyte antigen. These antibodies do not react with autologous erythrocytes since intact mouse erythrocytes do not carry reactive I-antigen. This antigen on the other hand is widely distributed in NZB/Bl mouse tissues. Newborn CF1 mice injected with cell-free filtrates of NZB/Bl mouse spleen produce CRA. The untreated offspring of these animals also synthesize this type of antibody suggesting that this immune response is induced by a self-replicating, ultrafilterable immunogen. CRA in NZB/Bl mice may, therefore, be another example of the induction of an auto-immune response by an infectious agent.

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© 1970 by American Society of Hematology, Inc.
1970
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