Sequential activation in V genes during postnatal life.
The BALB/c mouse strain represents an excellent model for studying the activation of V genes, because several myeloma proteins share the cross-reactive idiotype with antipolysaccharide antibodies of the same antigenic specificity. In addition, the majority of these antipolysaccharide antibody responses are independent of T help and, therefore, the maturation of helper T cells does not play a role in the study of these responses. Our results, as well as those obtained by other investigators, have shown that immunization of 1-day-old mice elicits an anti-beta 2 leads to 6 fructosan, 384Id anti-S tranaroa LPS, and X24IdX and X24IdI antigalactan response. T15Id+ phosphocholine, IdX+ anti-Ars, and 460Id+ anti-TNP (in response to immunization with TNP-LPS and TNP-Levan) antibody responses can be induced only in 6-to 8-day-old mice. One can obtain 2.4 SSSIII Id+ of anti-SSSIII and 347Id+ antiflagellin antibody responses only in 2-week-old mice. In 4-week-old mice IdX+ anti-beta 2 leads to 1 fructosan was elicited, and QPC52IdX+ anti-alpha 1-6 dextran in 3-month-old mice. These observations suggest a sequential activation of V genes during postnatal life. The theoretical and practical implications of these observations are discussed.
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D000939:Epitopes; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005802:Genes, MHC Class II; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007114:Immunization; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C
D000939:Epitopes