Antigen-specific early primary humoral responses modulate immunodominance of B cell epitopes.
Accumulation of primary Abs against two distinct epitopes on a designed polypeptide, MEP-1, was examined. The early primary response was predominantly against a C-terminal epitope (MEP 77-100), although subsequent maturation established an epitope within the N-terminal half (MEP 17-31) as the immunodominant one. Inversion of immunodominance correlated with the inability of anti-MEP 77-100 B cells to interact productively with T cells, which consequently received reduced help. Interaction between epitope-specific B and T cells was found to be attenuated in the presence of early primary anti-MEP-1 antiserum, and the extent of inhibition was directly proportional to the level and affinity of epitope-specific Igs. Therefore, it seems that early primary Abs to a multideterminant Ag selectively down-regulate maturation of epitope-specific primary humoral responses.
Vijayakrishnan
L
L
International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Institute of Immunology Campus, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, India.
Kumar
V
V
Agrewala
J N
JN
Mishra
G C
GC
Rao
K V
KV
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008211:Lymphocyte Cooperation; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors
D017931:DNA Primers; D000939:Epitopes; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D011994:Recombinant Proteins