Paralysis to serum albumins in T and B lymphocytes in mice. Dose dependence, specificity and kinetics of escape.

Abstract

AbstractParalysis to bovine serum albumin (BSA) was induced in mice at three concentrations of antigen. The animals were kept for 10 weeks at 10−8 M BSA (low zone), 10−5 M BSA (high zone) or 10−4 M BSA. The latter concentration approaches that of autologous serum albumin.In order to determine paralysis in helper T cells and antibody‐forming cell precursors (AFCP), the animals were immunized with sheep serum albumin (SSA) that cross‐reacts with BSA at the levels of both helper cell and AFCP receptors. Helper cell paralysis was quantitated by determining splenic helper activity for BSA in a cooperating cell transfer system. Paralysis in the AFCP was determined by measuring the cross‐reactivity of BSA and SSA in the anti‐SSA serum raised in paralyzed and control animals.The following results were obtained. (1) Helper activity was almost totally suppressed in both low zone abd high zone paralysis, and at the helper cell level, paralysis could not be “broken” by immunization with a cross‐reacting antigen. (2) Recovery in the helper cell compartment was not detectable before 4–5 months after the last paralyzing injection. (3) In the AFCP, that are not affected in low zone paralysis, only a small fraction of the cells, namely, those expressing receptors with a high affinity for the antigen, is inactivated in high zone paralysis. This is also true for animals kept at 10−4 M antigen over a 10‐week period. (4) Recovery in the (peripheral) AFCP was rapid and complete 2–3 months after the last paralyzing injection.