The induction of B cells refractory to antibody‐specific immunoregulation

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Abstract
Subsequent to primary immunization with a hapten‐carrier conjugate, and concomitant with an initial antibody response to that antigen, a regulatory mechanism is induced that specifically limits the stimulation of hapten‐specific primary B cell responses through the recognition of B cell antibody. Nonimmune B cells are sensitive to this regulation, while secondary B cells are refractory to its suppressive effects. Experiments were conducted to determine the conditions under which refractory B cell populations are generated. B cells from BALBlc and athymic BALB/c nu/nu mice were examined following immunization with the T‐dependent antigen dinitropheny‐lated (DNP) hemocyanin and the T‐independent antigen DNP‐Ficoll to assess the T cell dependence of the generation of refractory B cells. Evidence is presented that this process is not dependent on the presence or participation of T cells during in vivo immunization, since both T‐dependent and T‐independent antigens have the potential to induce a refractory B cell population. However, under certain circumstances, T cells can regulate the induction of refractory B cells during in vivo immunization. In addition, it was determined that the immunoregulatory phenomenon can be induced following immunization with both T‐dependent and T‐independent antigens.