ONTOGENY OF LYMPHOCYTE-B FUNCTION .9. DIFFERENCE IN THE TIME OF MATURATION OF THE CAPACITY OF LYMPHOCYTES-B FROM FETAL AND NEONATAL MICE TO PRODUCE A HETEROGENEOUS ANTIBODY-RESPONSE TO THYMIC-DEPENDENT AND THYMIC-INDEPENDENT ANTIGENS

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 36  (4) , 891-907
Abstract
The ontogeny of the capacity of the B [bone marrow-derived] lymphocyte population to produce a response which is heterogeneous with respect to antibody affinity was studied in a cell transfer system. Lethally irradiated mice were reconstituted with B cells from donors of various ages, together with adult thymus cells when the response to T[thymus-derived] cell-dependent antigens [Ag] was studied. The animals were immunized with 1 of a variety of Ag 1 day after cell transfer and the distribution of their splenic plaque-forming cells (PFC) with respect to affinity was assayed by hapten inhibition of plaque formation 2-3 wk after immunization. Mice reconstituted with B cells from neonatal donors produced a response of low affinity and restricted heterogeneity. With 4 different thymic-dependent Ag (DNP-BGG [dinitrophenylated bovine .gamma.-globulin], F-BGG [fluorescein-BGG], DNP-KLH [DNP-keyhole limpet hemocyanin] and Dan[dansyl]-KLH) the splenic B cell population acquired the capacity to reconstitute irradiated mice to produce a normal adult-like, highly heterogeneous, high affinity PFC response between 7 and 10 days after birth. The capacity to produce a heterogeneous response to the thymic-dependent protein antigen BGG matured just slightly later, between 10 and 14 days of age. The bone marrow matures with regard to the capacity to reconstitute irradiated mice to give a heterogeneous response several days after the spleen, possibly as a consequence of the redistribution of peripheral B cells to the bone marrow. Maturation of the capacity of the splenic B cell population to reconstitute irradiated recipients to give a heterogeneous, adult-like PFC response to 3 thymic-independent Ag (TNP-PA [trinitrophenylated polyacrylamide beads], DNP-Ficoll and TNP-BA [TNP-Brucella abortus]) occurs considerably later (between 3 and 4 wk of age). The population of B cell precursors which responds to thymic-dependent antigens may represent a different subpopulation of B cells from the population that responds to thymic independent Ag. These B cell subsets may mature at different times, presumably under independent controls.