Effect of CBA/N xid on Spontaneous Production of Antibodies to DNA in MRL/1 and NZB Backcross Mice

We have used the CBA/N X‐linked B‐cell maturation defect (xid) as a probe to analyse the B‐cell subset involved in spontaneous anti‐DNA production in MRL/1 and NZB mice. The presence of xid in NZB offspring significantly suppressed anti‐DNA production, whereas it did not suppress spontaneously produced antibody to DNA in MRL/1 offspring. These studies suggest that largely non‐overlapping B‐cell subsets are responsible for the spontaneous production of anti‐DNA in MRL/1 and NZB mice.