Localization of Antibody-Forming Cells in Draining Lymphoid Organs During Long-Term Maintenance of the Antibody Response

Abstract

Previous studies on the "spontaneous antibody response" have included in vitro steps and it is possible that the response is an in vitro artifact. The objective of the present study was to induce a spontaneous antibody response entirely in vivo and determine if the response is localized and if the magnitude of the response is related to the location of persisting antigen. Antigen was injected into the right hind footpads of mice, and lymph nodes on the right side were draining and lymph nodes on the left side were controls. Antibody-forming cells (AFCs) were enumerated in both draining and nondraining nodes 2 weeks, 2 months, and 1 year after secondary immunization. Four days prior to determining AFC number, the mice were severely bled to stimulate AFC production. Thousands of AFCs were found in the draining lymph nodes and the numbers were dramatic in nodes closest to the injection site that retain the most antigen. In contrast, the vast majority of nondraining nodes lacked any AFCs. One year after immunization, the response was almost exclusively in the popliteal node, draining the foot where antigen was administered a year earlier. These results are consistent with previous data on the spontaneous response and support the hypothesis that antigen retained on FDCs is essential in the maintenance of serum antibody levels.

Follicular dendritic cells stimulated by collagen type I develop dendrites and networks in vitro

“…Studies with labeled antigen indicate that antigen-bearing ICs remain localized to FDC networks in lymph nodes draining the site of antigen injection. For example, Donaldson et al (1986) have reported that antigen-retaining networks remain localized to lymph nodes draining an injection site 1 year after antigen challenge. Similarly, FDCs in vitro resist being washed off supporting matrices and, on collagen type I, they form networks that can only be mobilized by collagenase treatment.…”

False tumor-positive lymph nodes in radioimmunodiagnosis and radioimmunoguided surgery: Etiologic mechanisms

“…At 2 weeks and 2 months after the booster Ag injection, high counts of antibody-forming cells (AFC) were found in the ipsilateral popliteal lymph nodes, with AFC, although fewer, in the more centripetal lymph nodes, such as the para-aortic nodes, and even in the spleen. One year later (the longest interval studied), AFC counts had disappeared or declined in all lymph nodes, but were still highest in the ipsilatereal popliteal lymph node [30].…”

“…Antigen Persistence in Lymph Nodes: Immunological Memory In a landmark experiment [30], mice were given a unilateral hind footpad injection of horseradish peroxidase (a soluble Ag) with a booster dose 2 weeks later. At 2 weeks and 2 months after the booster Ag injection, high counts of antibody-forming cells (AFC) were found in the ipsilateral popliteal lymph nodes, with AFC, although fewer, in the more centripetal lymph nodes, such as the para-aortic nodes, and even in the spleen.…”

Immunoglobulin isotype influences traffic of B lymphocytes through popliteal lymph nodes in sheep

“…but fail to selectively retain IgG-CC or ACC of one Ig isotype. This is supported by work with mice which showed that ACC were not retained in non-draining lymph nodes and remained almost entirely confined in distribution to the antigenstimulated node (15).…”