Analysis of the Restricted Dinitrophenyl (DNP) Antibody Response to the DNP Conjugate of Poly-(L-Glu56, L-Lys35, L-Phe9)

Abstract

The anti-dinitrophenyl (DNP) response in B10 congenic mice to the DNP conjugate of the random linear terpolymer of L-Glu, L-Lys, L-Phe (GLØ) is restricted in the number of DNP-specific antibody-producing clones expressed as determined by the technique of isoelectric focusing. A limited strain survey indicated that a gene(s) outside the major histocompatibility complex may influence the degree of restriction in the DNP response to DNP-GLØ. Evaluation of sera run in juxtaposition established that a high percentage of B10 congenic mice express a common clone of anti-DNP antibody-producing cells in response to DNP-GLØ. The expression of this clone is independent of H-2 haplotype. These findings contrasted with the extremely heterogeneous populations of anti-DNP antibodies produced in these strains when immunized with DNP-ovalbumin (DNP-OVA). Adoptive transfer experiments revealed, however, that unprimed or GLØ-primed T cells can cooperate with syngeneic DNP-OVA-primed B cell clones to generate a heterogeneous anti-DNP response upon challenge with DNP-GLØ.