Figure 5.

Disruption of GCs impairs affinity maturation of serum antibody due to the selective inhibition of high affinity BM AFCs. MR1 (open circles) or control antibody (filled circles) was intravenously administered at days 6, 8, and 10 (early), days 10, 12, and 14 (intermediate), or days 16, 18, and 20 (late). At day 69 after immunization, sera and BM cells were recovered. Numbers of NP₅-binding and NP₂₆-binding AFCs in BM were determined by ELISPOT (A) and the ratios of NP₅-binding versus NP₂₆-binding AFCs were plotted (B). The amount of NP₅-binding or NP₂₆-binding IgG₁ antibody in each serum was determined by ELISA (C) and the ratios of NP₅-binding versus NP₂₆-binding antibody were plotted (D).