The immunopathological significance of the heterogeneity of antibody affinity.

Abstract

Mice of two inbred strains, prone to nephritis following neonatal lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection, produced antibody of lower affinity to two soluble protein antigens, human serum albumin and transferrin, than did two nephritis-resistant strains. Antigen in adjuvant elicited higher affinity antibody than did antigen in saline, in the nephritis-prone mice. The significance of these findings in the pathogenesis and treatment of nephritis, arthritis and other possible soluble complex disease is discussed.