title: TTGG-A-L-specific memory B cells induced in low responder strains.
abstract: The immune response to TTGG-A--L, a defined-sequence, branched-chain polypeptide, is regulated by MHC-linked Ir genes. TTGG-A--L-specific B cells can be demonstrated in low responder strains by activation to specific antibody secretion after immunization with TTGGAA-F gamma G, a conjugate of the hexapeptide TTGGAA and the immunogenic carrier fowl gamma-globulin. It is shown that immunization with TTGG-A--L induces specific memory B cells with equal efficiency in low and high responder strains. This finding demonstrates that memory formation in a B cell subpopulation represented by TTGG-A--L-specific precursors is independent of carrier-specific, MHC-restricted helper T cells. This conclusion is further supported by the demonstration in an adoptive transfer model that immunization with TTGG-A--L induces equivalent levels of TTGG-A--L-specific memory B cells in T cell-deficient nude mice and their normal heterozygous littermates.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005802:Genes, MHC Class II; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000276:immunology; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology; D005719:gamma-Globulins / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D009842:Oligopeptides; D010455:Peptides; D005719:gamma-Globulins; C021759:(T,G)-A-L