IMMUNE-RESPONSE OF LEWIS RATS TO PEPTIDE 68-88 OF GUINEA-PIG MYELIN BASIC-PROTEIN .2. B-CELL DETERMINANTS

Abstract

A series of peptides, produced from peptide 68-88 [which along with Mycobacterium butyricum complete Freund''s adjuvant injection induces experimental allergic encephalomyelitis by selective enzyme cleavage, were used to define the amino acid sequences reactive with Lewis rat anti-peptide 68-88 antibody. One hundred per cent of 38 rats immunized with peptide 68-88 recognized a B [bone marrow derived] cell determinant residing in the region of residues 80-88, appeared to confer conformation on this determinant. In roughly 2/3 of the rats, the reactivity with this major B cell determinant was equal to the reactivity with the immunizing peptide. In these rats the anti-peptide 68-88 antibodies were of the Ig[immunoglobulin]G2 class. A third of the rats recognized an additional determinant(s) and in these the predominant class of antibody was IgG1. [Rabbit and goat antisera were used.].