title: Antigen-binding lymphocytes in guinea pigs. I.B cell expansion to the monovalent antigen L-tyrosine-p-azophenyl trimethylammonium (tyr(TMA)) in the absence of antibody production.
abstract: The monofunctional antigen L-tyrosine-p-azophenyltrimethylammonium chloride, tyr(TMA), and the polyfunctional antigen, TMA-human gamma-globulin (TMA-HGG), were used to investigate the antigen structural requirements necessary for clonal proliferation of B cells. This clonal expansion was characterized with respect to receptor immunoglobulin class and affinity maturation. Antigen-binding analysis revealed that inoculation of tyr(TMA), although only of m.w. 344, triggers clonal expansion of B lymphocytes 9-fold in the absence of any apparent antibody production. There does not appear to be any maturation with respect to antibody class since greater than 90% of the tyr(TMA)-specific B cells bear the micron receptor in the nonimmune and immune state. However, the average avidity of the B cells for this antigen increases with time after immunization. In contrast, immunization with TMA-HGG results in an 18-fold increase in B lymphocytes with significant amounts of anti-TMA antibody production. With time after immunization, both maturation of average avidity and class of Ig receptor (micron leads to gamma shift) occur. These findings indicate that the functionally T cell-specific antigen tyr(TMA) can trigger clonal B cell expansion and affinity maturation at the receptor level in the absence of detectable antibody production.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D000941:Antigens; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D001666:Binding Sites, Antibody; D002455:Cell Division; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000276:immunology; D002999:Clone Cells / Q000276:immunology; D000939:Epitopes; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014357:Trypsin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000276:immunology; D005719:gamma-Globulins
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D000939:Epitopes; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell; D005719:gamma-Globulins; D014443:Tyrosine; D014357:Trypsin