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. 1987 Nov 1;166(5):1456–1463. doi: 10.1084/jem.166.5.1456

Somatically mutated forms of a major anti-p-azophenylarsonate antibody variable region with drastically reduced affinity for p-azophenylarsonate. By-products of an antigen-driven immune response?

T Manser, B Parhami-Seren, MN Margolies, ML Gefter
PMCID: PMC2189635  PMID: 3681190

Abstract

The pivotal role played by antigen in the clonal selection of B cells for initial participation in an immune response is well established. Antigen selective mechanisms ensure that antigen-binding antibodies are produced during all stages of the immune response. However, antibodies that lack specificity for the immunogen might also be produced during the course of an antigen-driven immune response . It has been suggested that, through idiotype-antiidiotype network interactions within the immune system, production of antibodies that lack specificity for the immunogen but that share idiotopes with antigen-binding antibodies could result (1). In addition, data obtained by a number of investigators suggest that somatic mutation of antibody V region genes occurs at a rate of 10(-3)/basepair/cell division in B cells participating in an immune response (2, 3). One outcome of such V region structural alteration could be antibodies that lack, or have drastically reduced affinity for the immunogen . We sought to identify and characterize some of the antibody by-products of the antigen-driven immune response that are expected to be created by the mechanisms described above.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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