Time and antigen dose-dependent variations of IgM antibody affinity.
Affinity of IgM antibodies elicited in mice by a single injection of dinitrophenylated dextran was measured by equilibrium dialysis. Maturation of affinity was found to occur with time, the rate of increase being higher after larger antigen doses. Maturation was followed by a decrease of affinity with time, the fall being more pronounced after lower antigen doses. These findings are more in line with the theory of antigen-induced diversity rather than with the maturation theory.
D000818:Animals; D000915:Antibody Affinity; D000941:Antigens; D003911:Dextrans / Q000276:immunology; D004136:Dinitrobenzenes / Q000276:immunology; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D008239:Lysine / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D013997:Time Factors
D000941:Antigens; D003911:Dextrans; D004136:Dinitrobenzenes; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D008239:Lysine