title: 'Background' immunoglobulin production: measurement, biological significance and regulation.
abstract: Every individual produces immunoglobulins, even under germfree conditions. This article discusses the measurement, biological significance and regulation of this 'spontaneous' ('background') immunoglobulin production. The authors relate this phenomenon to the original suggestions of Niels Kaj Jerne, in 1955, about the role of 'natural' circulating antibodies in antibody formation and the completeness of the repertoire of antigen-binding specificities as represented among the natural antibodies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Immunology, University of Umea, Umea, Sweden.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Benner
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Immunology, University of Umea, Umea, Sweden.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van Oudenaren
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Immunology, University of Umea, Umea, Sweden.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Björklund
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Immunology, University of Umea, Umea, Sweden.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ivars
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Immunology, University of Umea, Umea, Sweden.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Holmberg