title: Formation of antibody in the newborn mouse: study of T-cell-independent antibody response.
abstract: The ontogeny of immune responsiveness, as assayed by antibody formation in vitro, of mouse spleen lymphocytes to thymus-independent antigens is reviewed. Responsiveness to trinitrophenyl (TNP)-lipopolysaccharide and TNP-Brucella abortus appear soon after birth and one to two weeks before TNP-Ficoll or capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae (SSS-III) elicits significant antibody formation. This hierarchy of responsiveness to antigens is also apparent in the CBA/N mutant mouse strain, which has a bone marrow-derived (B-) cell maturation arrest and fails to respond to either TNP-ficoll or SSS-III. These findings are interpreted to suggest sequential maturation of different populations or lines of B-lymphocytes, each of which can respond to a defined class of thymus-independent antigens. The implication for vaccine use in humans is that a late-appearing subclass of B-cells may be required for adequate immune responses to polyaccharide antigens.
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000276:immunology*; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000941:Antigens; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002003:Brucella abortus / Q000276:immunology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008806:Mice, Inbred AKR; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000941:Antigens; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides