Studies on the control of antibody synthesis. IX. Effect of boosting on antibody affinity.

The effect of boosting on antibody affinity was studied in a haptenic system. Generally, boosting results in the prompt synthesis of high affinity anti-hapten antibody. However, repeated boosting frequently leads to a decrease in the amount and affinity of the serum antibody. Repeated boosting with hapten on a carrier different from that used for priming selectively stimulates synthesis of the highest affinity anti-hapten antibody and does not result in a decrease in affinity. Priming with soluble antigen without adjuvants results in the synthesis of low affinity antibody. After such priming, boosting stimulates low affinity antibody synthesis and repeated boosting leads to a moderate increase in antibody affinity.