Paradoxes in B-Cell Stimulation by Polymeric Antigen and the Immunon Concept

Experiments by Dintzis and colleagues have led to an explicit, semiquantitative theory of responses to T-independent antigens, called the immunon theory. An immunon is a postulated minimal cluster of receptors that can deliver an immunogenic signal to a B-cell. Alan Perelson here argues that the immunon concept is very difficult to reconcile with a theoretical analysis of cross-linking.