Differentiation of antibody‐synthesizing cells to production of allelic variants of rat immunoglobulin light chains

Abstract

of Sciences of the USSR, MoscowIn individual F1 hybrid rats, heterozygous for allelic genes of immunoglobulin light chains, the ratio of two allotypic variants of these chains was determined in antibodies to dansyl and p-aminobenzoic groups. From data obtained it was concluded that the differentiation of antibody-producing cells with respect to allelic genes represents an antigen-independent process. The ratio of allotypes in antibodies was detected following each of three antigen injections. The allotypic composition of antibodies isolated after the primary immunization was shown to be different from that of antibodies formed after the second immunization. Such differences were not found between antibodies isolated after the second and third immunizations. It might be that a new or, in any case, renovated population of antibody-producing cells is involved in immune response after a second antigen injection.

The number of antibody‐producing clones as revealed by the distribution of allelic variants of immunoglobulin light chains

“…This led t o a new interpretation of the renewal of the antibody-synthesizing cell population after repeated immunizations. The present findings concerning the decrease of t h e number of anti-hapten antibody-synthesizing clones are in agreement with other and our previous data [3] which confirm that not all primarily stimulated lymphoid cells yield memory cells. It is also possible that some cells sensitized by a primary contact with an antigen acquire the ability t o synthesize the antibodies only after a repeated antigen stimulus.…”

“…It is well-known that during an immune response clonal selection takes place [2], and the late antibodies differ from the early ones by the spectrotype as well as by the affinity. It has also been shown [3] that the allotype contents of antibodies after a second immunization differ from those after a primary immunization. This led t o a new interpretation of the renewal of the antibody-synthesizing cell population after repeated immunizations.…”

“…The expression of RLl and RL2 allelic genes of rat Ig light chains was studied earlier [3] in F1 hybrids obtained by crossing inbred rat strains, providing a homogeneous genetic background. The comparison of the proportion of allelic variants of specific antibodies in individual animals has led t o the conclusion that differentiation of the antibody-producing cells is a random event.…”

“…If, by contrast, the number of specific precursors is very large, then all animals will produce allelic variants in equal proportion (50:50). The ratios of allelic variants in the antibodies t o two haptens, azobenzoate (AB) [3] and lactoside [ 4 j and to a carrier protein, bovine IgG (BGG), have been shown t o vary considerably for individual rats. The degree of variation can be related t o the number of specific clonal precursors.…”

Analysis of antibody populations to oligo‐D‐alanine. VIII. Sequential studies on properties of antibody subpopulations: rate constant, affinity, and isoelectric focusing spectrum

“…These findings have been interpreted to mean that allelic exclusion [22,39,40] occurs at the level of progenitor cells [32] and that members of either of the two phenotypic subpopulations proliferate as independent lineages ("Eigenbehaviour", see In the lineage of mouse 6, we present data for a second bleeding of 2' recipients, indicated as S8', as well as tertiary recipients (for example S8P2, with triangular symbols) bled on the same day. Donor and recipients are connected by solid (b) or dotted (a) lines.…”