title: Comparison of the specific IgM and IgG antibody response in humans induced by antigen (tetanus toxoid) or a polyclonal activator (EBV) in vitro.
abstract: Culture conditions were established for the reproducible induction of specific antibody responses in vitro using peripheral blood lymphocytes from tetanus toxoid (TT) immunized donors. Maximum anti-TT antibody responses (250-350 ng/ml) were detected on day 9 of culture, with optimum quantities of antigen (0.1-1.0 micrograms/ml TT) or Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). The antigen-driven antibody response unlike the EBV-induced polyclonal response was both T-cell and monocyte-dependent. TT stimulated mainly the IgM class of anti-TT antibody whereas EBV stimulated both IgM and IgG. A combination of TT and EBV caused a partially additive IgM response but suppressed the IgG class of anti-TT antibody. Transfer of cells from 9-day EBV-stimulated cultures to fresh cultures suppressed the anti-TT antibody response, possibly due to elevated levels of OKT8+ suppressor/cytotoxic cells found in culture after EBV infection. These results provide a reliable system for studying B-cell regulation in man.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000917:Antibody Formation; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007700:Kinetics; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid