A Chemical Approach to the Mechanism of B-Lymphocyte Activation.

Abstract

In an attempt 10 definitively determine whether the pure presentation of haptens (on repetitive, non‐metabolizable carriers) to B lymphocytes triggers differentiation to antibody‐producing cells, dinitrophenyl and trinitrophenyl groups have been covalently coupled to potentially inert carriers (polymethylmethacrylate, chlorinated polyethylene and cellulose). The resulting conjugates (with three different degrees of hapten substitution) are not immunogenic. It is therefore concluded that the pure presentation of haptens to B lymphocytes docs not trigger antibody formation.