ABSTRACT
This chapter serves as an extension of previous reviews on the immunobiology of collagen. It focuses upon H-2 linked immune response (IR) gene phenomena in the control of murine antibody response to heterologous collagens. The chapter discusses the differences in cognitive specificities between T cells and B cells. It discusses the problems of monoclonal antibody production and autoimmune disease. The original work indicating that the murine antibody response to immunization with heterologous collagens was controlled by H-2 linked immune response genes can be attributed to Timpl’s laboratory. One set of questions has to do with the cell surface molecules involved in IR gene function. The most important site of H-2-linked IR gene function appears to be a membrane interface between a subset of T cells and the antigen presenting cell. It seems clear that individualized strategies will be necessities for each type of collagen, and indeed may be required for each component part of a collagen molecule.
