ABSTRACT
Measurements of affinity and affinity distributions were carried out both immunochemically by the traditional techniques of equilibrium dialysis, fluorescence quenching, and solid-phase radioimmunoassay, at the antibody-secreting cell level by hapten inhibition of plaque formation. The results in a shift in the distribution of B cells, from a population consisting mainly of low-affinity antibody-secreting cells shortly after antigen exposure, to a highly heterogeneous population with a marked representation of high-affinity clones and a high average affinity, late after immunization. The progressive rise in average affinity and shift in affinity distribution with time after immunization, it was shown that: the rate of increase in affinity is greater after lower doses of antigen; depletion of T cells leads to reduced affinity maturation in response to T-dependent antigens. Their immune response was typical of the age of the T-cell donor with respect to auto-anti-ldiotype and antibody affinity.
