Sequential IgM and IgG2 anti-DNP antibody responses against DNP-E. coli and DNP-lipopolysacchardies in guinea-pigs.

When 2,4-dinitrophenylated cells (DNP-E. coli) and lipopolysaccharides (DNP-LPS) of Escherichia coli were injected i.p. into guinea-pigs, they were capable of inducing sequential production of IgM and IgG2 anti-DNP antibodies, both of which were substantially thymus-independent, but only a trace of IgG1 anti-DNP antibody was produced. On the other hand, thymus-dependent DNP-bovine serum albumin (DNP-BSA) induced concomitantly both the IgG1 and IgG2 antibody responses in the presence of LPS. Therefore, the preferential IgG2 antibody response against DNP-LPS seems to be elicited with DNP-LPS itself and not by a combination of mitogenic stimulation with LPS and haptenic stimulation with other contaminating substances carrying DNP residues. Furthermore, it may not be related to affinity of the antibodies produced since there was no significant difference in the affinity for DNP residue between the IgG2 and IgG1 anti-DNP antibodies produced with DNP-E. coli and DNP-BSA, respectively.