Ten percent of normal B cells and plasma cells share A VH determinant(s) (J606-GAC) with a distinct subset of murine VHIII plasmacytomas.

Our findings indicate that a subset of VHIII antibodies, which we refer to as J606-GAC, contains a determinant(s) that is present on 5 to 15% of normal splenic B cells and plasma cells as detected by immunofluorescence. This subpopulation is detected by purified antibody, 0-1, which was prepared against a murine anti-group A carbohydrate (anti-GAC) hybridoma antibody. The J606-GAC subset includes the beta 2, 1 fructosan myelomas J606, EPC109, W3082, ABPC4, and UPC61, as well as 13 anti-GAC hybridomas. The 0-1 antiserum failed to react with hybridoma and myeloma immunoglobulins from murine VH groups I and II or other VHIII antibodies. By Western blot analysis, it was observed to react with isolated heavy, but not light, chains of J606-GAC-bearing antibodies. 0-1 failed to react with myelomas XRPC44 and J539, which have the same J region as J606 but a very different VH region. These observations indicate that 0-1 is detecting a VH region determinant. The J606-GAC marker recognized by 0-1 was expressed as early as 4 days after birth and was expressed at similar frequencies in germfree and conventional mice. Immunoprecipitation of both surface and biosynthetically labeled proteins from spleen cells or J606-GAC-positive hybridoma cell lines, respectively, confirmed that 0-1 was recognizing an immunoglobulin determinant.