PMID: 6977576May 1, 1982Paper

A mitogen for human B cells: anti-Ig coupled to polyacrylamide beads activates blood mononuclear cells independently of T cells

The Journal of Immunology : Official Journal of the American Association of Immunologists
J J FothergillD C Parker

Abstract

The F(ab')2 fragment of rabbit anti-human F(ab')2 antibodies covalently linked to polyacrylamide beads (anti-Ig beads) acts as a polyclonal mitogen for human B cells in whole peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBM) or tonsil cells. Activation, measured by the rate of DNA synthesis, is the result of an interaction between the anti-Ig beads and membrane immunoglobulin found on B cells. Excess soluble human F(ab')2 blocks activation with anti-Ig beads. Immunospecifically purified antibodies against IgM or IgD bound to beads activate lymphocytes. Also soluble anti-IgM or anti-IgD can block activation with insolubilized anti-IgM or anti-IgD, respectively, by modulating membrane immunoglobulin. Irrelevant rabbit antihapten antibodies bound to beads failed to activate PBM or tonsil cells. Anti-Ig beads act independently of T cells. The anti-Ig beads lead to activation of B cells without further maturation to polyclonal immunoglobulin secretion.

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Antibody Specificity

Antibodies produced by B cells are highly specific for antigen as a result of random gene recombination and somatic hypermutation and affinity maturation. As the main effector of the humoral immune system, antibodies can neutralize foreign cells. Find the latest research on antibody specificity here.