The induction of B cells refractory to antibody-specific immunoregulation

Subsequent to primary immunization with a hapten-carrier conjugate, and concomitant with an initial antibody response to that antigen, a regulatory mechanism is induced that specifically limits the stimulation of hapten-specific primary B cell responses through the recognition of B cell antibody. Nonimmune B cells are sensitive to this regulation, while secondary B cells are refractory to its suppressive effects. Experiments were conducted to determine the conditions under which refractory B cell populations are generated. B cells from BALB/c and athymic BALB/c nu/nu mice were examined following immunization with the T-dependent antigen dinitrophenylated (DNP) hemocyanin and the T-independent antigen DNP-Ficoll to assess the T cell dependence of the generation of refractory B cells. Evidence is presented that this process is not dependent on the presence or participation of T cells during in vivo immunization, since both T-dependent and T-independent antigens have the potential to induce a refractory B cell population. However, under certain circumstances, T cells can regulate the induction of refractory B cells during in vivo immunization. In addition, it was determined that the immunoregulatory phenomenon can be induced following immunization with both T-dependent and T-independent antigens.