Differences in Specific Antibody Responses of Human Tonsillar Cells to an Oral and a Parenteral Antigen

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Tonsillar lymphocytes stimulated in vitro with .beta.-lactoglobulin or with tetanus toxoid were shown to produce specific antibodies by a direct plaque assay and by radioimmunoprecipitation of the culture supernatants. There was a 6-fold increase in the number of IgA-secreting cells in response to .beta.-lactoglobulin; no such effect was seen in response to tetanus toxoid, where a 5-fold rise in IgG-secreting cells occurred. These differences in antibody response are probably due to the route of initial antigen presentation. Those antigens priming the mucosa-associated lymphoid system stimulate mainly IgA-producing cells, in contrast to parenteral antigens, which elicit a predominantly IgM and IgG response.