Suppression and Selection of B Cells during Lysozyme Tolerance in the Mouse

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Abstract
Soon after tolerance induction, cross-reactive avian lysozymes terminate tolerance to hen lysozyme (HEL).3 The production of cross-reactive antibody at this stage indicates that the bone marrow-derived (B) cell compartment is still non-tolerant. Later, B cell tolerance is also induced, but it requires a longer exposure and a higher dose of antigen than does induction of thymus-derived (T) cell tolerance. At a time during recovery from neonatal or adult tolerance to HEL, when HEL-reactive B cells can again be demonstrated, mice challenged with turkey lysozyme (TEL) produce only TEL-specific antibody. The possibility is suggested that TEL-specific B cells compete more favorably for available antigen than do the newly returning, cross-reactive B cells. The reduced response to challenge in tolerant animals is discussed in relation to a model in which there are stringent stereospecific rules governing the presentation of antigen to B cells.

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