The "patchy" immunodeficiency of CBA/N mice

The in vivo responses of CBA/N (which have an X-linked defect of B lymphocyte differentiation) and CBA/J normal mice to 2,4,6-trinitrophenylated (TNP) bacteriophage T4 and Diplococcus pneumoniae CS variant have been compared. Both antigens are thymus-independent (TI), and TNP-CS additionally contains the phosphorylcholine (PC) epitope, CBA/N and CBA/J mice give TNP plaque-forming cell responses similar in magnitude and avidity although only CBA/J give a PC response when challenged with TNP-CS. These results indicate that CBA/N mice have a "patchy" defect of antigen-induced humoral responses. This defect is manifested only in certain subpopulations of B cells and is not restricted to TI responses.