Functional, Structural, and Antigenic Similarities of Guinea Pig Anti-Phosphorylcholine Antibodies

Abstract

The humoral immune response to PC was measured in guinea pigs. PC-vaccine stimulated IgM and IgG2, but little IgG1, anti-PC antibodies. No memory was induced and immunization in CFA produced tolerance. PC-KLH, on the other hand, stimulated IgM, IgG2, and IgG1 anti-PC antibodies with carrier-specific memory. Hapten inhibition of plaque formation showed uniform binding patterns with minor, but significant, differences between anti-PC-vaccine and anti-PC-KLH antibodies. The antibodies were characterized by IEF and idiotypic analyses. Early after immunization with PC-vaccine, guinea pigs had restricted IEF patterns which in inbred, but not outbred animals were indistinguishable between individuals. These patterns remained restricted but more individualized with time after immunization. Anti-PC-KLH antibodies showed more heterogeneity and individuality. However, these structurally heterogeneous antibodies reacted equivalently with rabbit anti-idiotype antisera and therefore must share common structural features, regardless of isotype or the genetic background of the guinea pig.