Affinity and distribution of subpopulations of antibody-producing cells in protein-restricted C57BL/6 mice.
To study the effect of protein restriction on the affinity of antibodies produced by plaque-forming cells (PFC), C57BL/6 mice were fed diets containing 4% (R4%), 8% (R8%), or 27% (N) casein for 2 (short-term) or 12 (long-term) weeks and immunized with dinitrophenyl (DNP) bovine gamma-globulin in complete Freund's adjuvant. Affinity was assessed by inhibition of plaque formation in the presence of free hapten. Anti-DNP PFC per 10(7) spleen cells were not diminished in short- and long-term R8% mice, and were increased in the former group at certain times after immunization. Affinity of indirect PFC was increased at Days 14 and 21 after immunization in short-term R8% mice and at Day 7 in R4% mice, and was similar in long-term R8% and N animals. No limitation in the heterogeneity of PFC affinities was observed in the restricted groups. Short-term restricted mice showed a rise of the high-affinity PFC subpopulation. The number of mice with hapten-augmentable PFC was diminished in the short-term R8% group at 7 days after immunization and in long-term restricted mice at 14 days, suggesting depressed levels of auto-anti-idiotypic antibodies in protein restriction.
D000818:Animals; D000915:Antibody Affinity; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000921:Antibody-Producing Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D004136:Dinitrobenzenes / Q000276:immunology; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D006241:Haptens; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011488:Protein Deficiency / Q000276:immunology*; D013997:Time Factors
D004136:Dinitrobenzenes; D006241:Haptens