Studies on the control of antibody synthesis. Effect of antibody affinity upon its ability to suppress antibody formation

Abstract

Suppression of anti-DNP antibody formation by passively administered anti-DNP antibody was studied quantitatively. The ability of an antiserum to suppress antibody formation was found to be related to the affinity of the antibody for the homologous antigenic determinant (ε-DNP-L-lysine), high affinity antibody being capable of causing suppression at far lower concentrations than low affinity antibody. In addition, very low concentrations of high affinity antibody were found to bring about enhancement of antibody formation. The results are discussed with respect to the significance of circulating antibody in the control of antibody synthesis.

Partial suppression of antibody formation by a single injection of passive antibody slightly lowered the affinity of the antibody synthesized. The affinity of the antibody synthesized was independent of the affinity of the passive antibody used to bring about partial suppression.