title: Suppression of specific IgM, IgA and IgG responses in mice treated with anti-delta from birth.
abstract: In contrast to previous studies, we report that heterologous anti-delta antibodies can act as a powerful multi-class humoral immunosuppressant. Primary direct plaque-forming cell (IgM) responses of BALB/c mice injected from birth with a rabbit anti-delta antiserum were reduced to 3% of control levels against a T-dependent antigen (sheep red blood cells), and to 2% against a T-independent antigen (dextran); IgA responses against 2 intraduodenal injections of cholera toxin were reduced to 7% of control levels. Other secondary immune responses of anti-delta-suppressed mice were suppressed to a lesser degree. IgM plaque responses generated by 2 injections of sheep red cells, for example, were reduced to 50% of control levels, with reduction of the corresponding IgG response to 42%. The multi-class suppression observed indicates a clonal differentiation pathway in which the IgD+ cell develops into IgM-, IgA- and IgG-secreting cells. In light of reports that the IgD+ cell is antigen sensitive, our demonstration that IgD is capable of delivering the same sort of immunosuppressive signal in response to anti-heavy chain antibodies that IgM delivers also suggests, though it does not establish, an antigen-receptor role for IgD.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000276:immunology*; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000276:immunology*; D000921:Antibody-Producing Cells / Q000276:immunology; D000955:Antigens, T-Independent / Q000276:immunology; D002772:Cholera Toxin / Q000276:immunology; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000276:immunology*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology*; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000276:immunology*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000276:immunology*; D007138:Immunoglobulin delta-Chains / Q000276:immunology*; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C
chemical_list: D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D000955:Antigens, T-Independent; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007138:Immunoglobulin delta-Chains; D002772:Cholera Toxin