ABSTRACT
This chapter contains a presentation of experimental findings in the field of immunology and a discussion of their significance in light of current concepts. Experiments with antibody as ligand shed light on the phenomenon of binding. Cap formation and pinocytosis are ATP-requiring active processes induced by specific antibody; they may involve microfilament activity. The observation that Fab anti-immunoglobulin-treated cells cap if they are subsequently treated with anti-Fab antibody suggests that cross-linking by divalent antibody is essential for capping. Antibodies specific to clathrin have been injected into the cytosol for inhibition of coated pits. The early experiments on lymphocyte triggering by antibodies and lectins indicate that membrane phenomena are an important initial part of this program. Blood group N and antigens are part of the glycocalyx, single antibody treatment resulted in a reduction in electrophoretic mobility of 27 to 31% and 18%, respectively. Sundaram et al. showed that incubation of nonstimulated cells with antigen altered the electrophoretic mobility by mere adsorption.
