Abstract
A theory of antibody production is proposed in which (1) macrophages phagocytize the immunogen and transfer an immunogen-RNA complex to lymphocytes, (2) the RNA combines with the initiator locus of the lymphocyte and (3) a γ-globulin molecule with threshold avidity for the immunogen combines with it and, by allosteric changes, activates the initiator gene. Thus, it is seen that any cell making specific antibody will be selected for in the Darwinian sense and become more numerous in its kind. The mechanism is shown to explain the classical immunological phenomena of specificity, variety, tolerance, lymphoproliferation, spontaneous termination, anamnesia, recognition of self and increased affinity with the passage of time. An advantage to a system of antibody production involving two cell types is offered in the light of the proposed mechanism.
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