title: Thymus-independent induction and antigen-dependent recovery of idiotype-specific suppression.
abstract: BALB/c nude (nu/nu) mice and euthymic (nu/+) littermates were treated as neonates with anti-T15 antibody and challenged at various ages with either a thymus-independent, PC-Brucella abortus (PC-BA), or thymus-dependent, PC-keyhole limpet hemocyanin (PC-KLH), form of phosphorylcholine (PC). Nu/nu mice challenged with PC-KLH received KLH-primed splenic T cells prior to immunization. Neither neonatally anti-idiotype-treated nu/+ nor nu/nu mice responded with the production of T15-positive anti-PC antibodies after challenge with either form of PC antigen. It is concluded that neither induction nor maintenance of a state of T15-specific suppression requires thymus-matured T cells. Recovery of anti-PC responsiveness in suppressed nu/+ or nu/nu mice was similar and was found to be related to the form of antigen used to elicit the response. Immunization with PC-KLH revealed a long-lasting unresponsiveness (up to 16 weeks). In contrast, immunization with PC-BA elicited a full anti-PC response as early as at 6.5 weeks of age.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000921:Antibody-Producing Cells / Q000276:immunology; D000955:Antigens, T-Independent / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D000939:Epitopes; D005260:Female; D006433:Hemocyanins / Q000276:immunology; D006462:Hemolytic Plaque Technique; D007106:Immune Sera / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D010767:Phosphorylcholine / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D000955:Antigens, T-Independent; D000939:Epitopes; D007106:Immune Sera; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes; D010767:Phosphorylcholine; D006433:Hemocyanins