A selective theory for the epigenetic specification of the monospecific antibody production in single cell lines.

A new selective theory for the specification of the antibody production is presented. It is grounded on the following postulates: (a) the antigen stimulus triggers the synthesis of antibodies having a wide variety of specificities in a given immunocompetent cell and its progeny; (b) only these antibodies having affinity for the antigen have their synthesis stabilized, and competition between the diverse syntheses will favor the antibodies having the highest affinity; (c) there existes a threshold synthesis such that when the production of an antibody becomes lower than the threshold, it will go to zero. As a consequence, one should observe, immediately after the antigen stimulus, the transient appearance of a large number of seemingly unspecific immunoglobulins, followed by specific antibodies. The apparent binding constant of these antibodies should also increase during the specification period. Besides, one should observe a small, but detectable amount of self antibodies during the early period of specification. Finally, in the presence of several antigens, one should find cells which appear to produce antibodies against several antigens during a transient period.