[The effect of epitope density on the immunogenic properties of hapten-protein conjugates].

The model of T-dependent dopamine-protein conjugates prepared by the glutaraldehyde method was used to study the influence of hapten valence and molecular weight on the immunogenicity of these conjugates. The immunogenicity of dopamine-protein conjugates increased in the range of DA4-BSA--DA5,8-BSA--DA14-BSA and decreased with further increase of hapten density. It was assumed that partial tolerogenic properties of DA18-22-BSA were due to nonspecific mechanisms associated with changes in the physical molecular characteristics of the antigen during the procedure of conjugation, rather than to specific mechanisms. The latter are more typical for low substituted conjugates.