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Seminar in Reproductive Immunology: Sequential Activation of V Genes During Postnatal Life
Author(s) -
BONA CONSTANTIN A.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
american journal of reproductive immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1600-0897
pISSN - 0271-7352
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0897.1980.tb00008.x
Subject(s) - idiotype , antibody , immunization , phosphocholine , immunology , antigen , gene , antibody response , biology , monoclonal antibody , genetics , phospholipid , membrane , phosphatidylcholine
The BALB/c mouse strain represents an excellent model for studying the activation of V genes, because several myeloma proteins share the cross‐reactive idiotype with antipolysaccharide antibodies of the same antigenic specificity. In addition, the majority of these antipolysaccharide antibody responses are independent of T help and, therefore, the maturation of helper T cells does not play a role in the study of these responses. Our results, as well as those obtained by other investigators, have shown that immunization of 1‐day‐old mice elicits an anti‐β 2 —6 fructosan, 384Id anti‐S tranaroa LPS, and X24IdX and X24IdI antigalactan response. T15Id + phosphocholine, IdX + anti‐Ars, and 460Id + anti‐TNP (in response to immunization with TNP‐LPS and TNP‐Levan) antibody responses can be induced only in 6‐to 8‐day‐old mice. One can obtain 2.4 SSSIII Id + of anti‐SSSIII and 347Id + antiflagellin antibody responses only in 2‐week‐old mice. In 4‐week‐old mice IdX + anti‐β 2 ‐>1 fructosan was elicited, and QPC52IdX + anti‐α 1 ‐6 dextran in 3‐month‐old mice. These observations suggest a sequential activation of V genes during postnatal life. The theoretical and practical implications of these observations are discussed.