title: Anti-immunoglobulin antibodies. V. Age-dependent variation of clones stimulated by polysaccharide TI-2 antigens in 129 and MRL mice spontaneously producing anti-gamma-globulin antibodies.
abstract: The nature of the immune response to two conventional polysaccharide thymus-independent (TI) antigens was investigated in two RF-producing mouse strains, the 129/Sv and MRL/1 pr, as well as in their normal congenic counterparts, 129/J and MRL +/+ animals. An age-dependent variation of clones specific for the TI-2 antigens bacterial levan (BL) and alpha 1, 3 dextran B1355 (Dex) was observed in 129/J mice. Surprisingly, the anti-BL and anti-Dex responses observed for young (1-mo-old) 129/Sv mice far exceeded those of their age-matched controls indicating an accelerated ontogenic development of the immune response to TI-2 antigens. A poor response was observed for both MRL +/+ and MRL/1 pr mice after immunization with BL. More importantly, MRL mice, unlike other H-2k, Igh.Ca strains, were unresponsive to Dex in CFA or saline. MRL mice, however, could respond to the T-dependent form of this antigen, Dex-KLH, suggesting that these mice lack the subset of B cells required to respond to TI-2 antigens. Finally, the most striking observation was the occurrence of isotype-specific RF subsequent to immunization with these antigens in animals prone to develop RF, as well as in aged animals that do not spontaneously produce RF.
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000921:Antibody-Producing Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D000955:Antigens, T-Independent / Q000276:immunology*; D002999:Clone Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D003911:Dextrans / Q000276:immunology; D005630:Fructans / Q000276:immunology; D007525:Isoelectric Focusing; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005719:gamma-Globulins / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D000955:Antigens, T-Independent; D003911:Dextrans; D005630:Fructans; D005719:gamma-Globulins; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor