The proportion and structure of cells forming antibody, γG and γM immunoglobulins, and γG and γM antibodies

Abstract

A double-label method was developed that utilized horseradish peroxidase (POX) as antigen and its reaction in substrate to detect antibody in cells and simultaneously used 125I-labeled monospecific antisera to detect Ig class. Three categories of cells may be detected, antibody forming elements, immunoglobulin producing cells, and cells synthesizing antibody of a known immunoglobulin class. In the light microscope the percentage of γG antibody producing cells was five times greater than the percentage of γM antibody producing cells. In the electron microscope about 1 6 of the γG antibody forming cells were lymphocytes and 5 6 were plasma cells. By contrast, of the γM antibody forming cells, 9 10 were lymphocytes and 1 10 plasma cells. By calculation roughly 70% of all antibody forming cells were synthesizing γG antibody and 12% were synthesizing γM antibody. Approximately 35% of all γG producing cells were making γG antibody, and 23% of all γM producing cells were making γM antibody. The double label method was found to be sensitive and specific, but inherent difficulties of the enzymatic reaction and its activation by antibody impaired its accuracy.