Long-lasting in vitro immune response to a distinct antigenic determinant of a bacterial protein. Cyclic changes of antibody titer and affinity.

Long-lasting (60 days or more) antibody responses in vitro by rabbit lymph node fragments to a distinct determinant of Escherichia coli beta-D-galactosidase were obtained by supplementing culture medium with fetal calf and horse serum. Antibodies released in the supernatant were removed every 3rd to 5th day together with the spent medium, without pooling to minimize intermixing of molecules synthesized far apart in time. Antibody titer, association constant, and heterogeneity index were measured in medium samples collected throughout the response in order to draw profiles of their changes under conditions whereby a limited number of clones synthesize antibodies in a closed system without connection to antigen depots, central lymphoid organs, and circulating cell and antibody pools. It was found that antibody affinity changes cyclically and that such cycles may be repeated. Cycles are composed of an ascendant limb with a gradual increase in affinity and a parallel diminution of heterogeneity. A descendant limb follows with the opposite modifications. High affinity antibodies predominate at the peak of the cycles, whereas low affinity molecules take over at the end of the cycles until the next ascendant limb begins; these persist after the last cycle has waned.