title: Age-dependence of the IgA anti-alpha (1 leads to 3) dextran B1355 response in vitro.
abstract: The magnitude of the Balb/c mouse IgA anti-alpha (1 leads to 3) dextran B1355 (anti-dex) response in vivo was recently found to be markedly T-cell-dependent and age-dependent. This report demonstrates that the in vitro IgA anti-dex response by mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) is highly age-dependent and that there is an age-dependent increase of the background IgA anti-dex plaque-forming cell (PFC) response occurring in the absence of added antigen which correlates significantly with the magnitude of the antigen-stimulated response. In aging mice both background and antigen-stimulated IgA anti-dex responses appeared to be significantly higher in MLN than in spleen cultures. Moreover, it is shown that there is a striking increase with age of natural antibody in the serum of normal Balb/c to alpha (1 leads to 3) glucan determinants, particularly IgA and lesser amounts of IgM and IgG3.
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D000921:Antibody-Producing Cells / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003911:Dextrans / Q000276:immunology*; D006462:Hemolytic Plaque Technique; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000166:cytology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D003911:Dextrans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M