Premium
IMMUNOGENICITY OF FOUR SEQUENTIAL POLYPEPTIDES IN INBRED GUINEA‐PIGS AND THEIR RECOGNITION AT THE T LYMPHOCYTE AND ANTIBODY LEVELS
Author(s) -
Zeiger A. R.,
Maurer P. H.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
international journal of immunogenetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.41
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1744-313X
pISSN - 1744-3121
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-313x.1982.tb01007.x
Subject(s) - immunogen , immunogenicity , antigen , immune system , heterologous , biology , antibody , epitope , lymphocyte , strain (injury) , inbred strain , guinea pig , t lymphocyte , immunology , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , monoclonal antibody , gene , genetics , anatomy
SUMMARY Four sequential polypeptides containing equimolar amounts of tyrosine, glutamic acid, alanine and glycine were shown to be T lymphocyte‐dependent immunogens in inbred guinea‐pigs. Poly (Glu‐Ala‐Tyr‐Gly) was immunogenic only in strain 2 guinea‐pigs; poly (Glu‐Tyr‐Ala‐Gly) and poly (Ala‐Tyr‐Glu‐Gly) were immunogenic only in strain 13 guinea‐pigs; and poly (Ala‐Glu‐Tyr‐Gly) was immunogenic in both inbred strains. The specificity of immune recognition was probed at the T lymphocyte and humoral levels with the heterologous polypepties. Only a few cases of heterologous cross‐stimulation or cross‐reaction were observed, indcating the great selectivity of immune recognition. The results showed considerable variability in immune recognition from animal to animal. Nevertheless, at the T‐cell level, cross‐stimulation appears to necessitate that the antigen is itself immunogenic in that strain, whereas at the antibody level, cross‐reaction is not similarly restricted. The structural basis for mutual recognition of immunogen and antigen at these levels is discussed.