The immune response to bacterial dextrans. VI. No correlation between the frequency of cells expressing a major anti-dextran idiotype and the idiotype profiles of specific antibody responses.
C57BL/6 mice respond to Dextran B512 (Dex) with a predominant idiotype (Id) (17-9) while no such Id-positive antibodies are identified in the specific antibody response of BALB/c mice. We used limiting dilution systems to determine the absolute frequencies of clonal B-cell precursors producing the 17-9 Id in these two mouse strains and analysed the correlation between Id-expression and antibody activity at the clonal level. The results show very similar frequencies of anti-Dex and Id-positive B cells in both strains, but C57BL/6 mice contained fourfold higher frequencies of Dex-specific clonal precursors which are Id-positive. This kind of clone, although not used in the specific response of BALB/c mice, constitute roughly 20% of their anti-Dex repertoire and they are readily induced in this strain. Thus, immunization of both strains with anti-idiotypic antibodies results in the production of Id-positive anti-Dex antibodies with serum titres that directly correlate with precursor frequencies. The results show, therefore, that the section of clonal repertoires utilized in a primary immune response varies with the immunogen, even if thymus-independent. These observations are discussed in the context of the genetic controls of anti-Dex antibody responses and on the general question of the utilization of available antibody repertoires in immune responses.
Lundkvist
I
I
Laboratory of Immunobiology, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.
Portnoï
D
D
Coutinho
A
A
D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002999:Clone Cells / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D003911:Dextrans / Q000276:immunology*; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D006462:Hemolytic Plaque Technique; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D003911:Dextrans; D000939:Epitopes; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes