Ontogeny of the erythrocyte-dependent IgM antibody responses to cell membrane antigens.

Our previous experiments characterized the T-cell independent type 2 B-cell responses to cell membrane antigens that are controlled by two donor cell types with different antigen-presenting (AP) activities. We here report about the ontogeny of this novel type of responses with special reference to the mutual relation of the development among two AP activities and their acceptor functions. The responses of mice to H-2d antigens on allogeneic cells and hapten (fluorescein isothiocyanate) antigens on syngeneic cells were examined in parallel. The positive AP activity displayed by red blood cells (RBC) for induction of anti-hapten responses was fully developed in the fetus, although H-2d antigens on the RBC for induction of anti-H-2d responses was immature in mice under 7 days old. In contrast, the negative AP activity displayed by spleen cells (B cells) for inhibition of the RBC-dependent anti-hapten and anti-H-2d responses was first developed in mice about 3 weeks old. The B cell functions accepting the positive and negative AP activities were also matured by that time. The possible significance of these findings in the physiology and pathology of the unique responses was discussed.