EFFECTS OF WHOLE-BODY IRRADIATION ON ANTIBODY AFFINITY

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 33  (3) , 373-380
Abstract
Mice exposed to a sublethal dose of X-rays were immunized with alum-precipitated DNP-KLH (dinitrophenyl-keyhole limpet hemocyanin) and Bordetella pertussis before or after irradiation. The primary anti-DNP antibody response was evaluated during 8 wk after immunization by the equilibrium dialysis technique using (NH4)2SO4 precipitated serum globulins and the ligand 3H-labeled .epsilon.-DNP-L-lysine. The serum concentrations of antibody sites in mice immunized 1-5 days before or 2 h-8 wk after 450 rad were below the values in unirradiated controls at all bleeding times. Antibody affinity was apparently up to 20-fold higher in irradiated mice than in control mice when antigen was injected before, or 3-8 wk after, irradiation. Spleen cells from mice exposed to 450 rad 1-9 wk before killing were stimulated in vitro with PHA [phytohemagglutinin], ConA [concanavalin A] or LPS [lipopolysaccharide]. Recovery profiles of mitotic responsiveness suggest that enhancement of antibody affinity in irradiated mice could result from relative lack of suppressor T [thymus-derived] cells.