Evidence that carrier-specific B cells play a role in cellular collaboration

Evidence is presented showing that carrier-specific B cells play a significant role in inducing an anti-hapten antibody response to the thymus-dependent antigen, dinitrophenylated monomeric flagellin (DNP-MON), both in vivo and in vitro. Inactivation of carrier-specific B cells by (125I) polymeric flagellin (POL) suicide decreased the anti-DNP IgM response by 40%-50% and reduced the anti-DNP IgG response by 85%-90%. Several lines of evidence established that the suicide procedure eliminated carrier-specific B cells rather than carrier-specific T (helper) cells.