IgE antibody formation and aging. I. Age-related changes in IgE antibody formation and avidity for the DNP-determinant in mice
Fujiwara, M.; Kishimoto, S.
Journal of Immunology 123(1): 263-268
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-1767 PMID: 87474 Document Number: 153787
The Ig were assessed in young adult and aged C57BL/6J mice. The primary IgE anti-DNP antibody response was significantly reduced in aged mice. The secondary response of 54 wk old mice was comparable to that of young adult mice, although the decline of the antibody level was more rapid in aged mice compared to young adult mice. Multiple booster injections could not restore the depressed immune response of 66 wk old mice to the level of the immune response of young adult mice in terms of IgE antibody responses to DNP-As. The IgE anti-carrier response was considerably lower than the IgE anti-hapten response, and more transient and significantly lower in aged mice than in young adult mice. The avidity of IgE antibody for DNP-determinant was invariably higher in young adult mice than in aged mice. Booster injections increased the avidity of IgE antibody in both groups of mice. The hemagglutinating antibody response was also impaired in aged mice, which mounted minute or no amounts of IgG antibody. Upon transfer of the thymocytes from young syngeneic donor mice, the aged mice could restore substantially the IgE and hemagglutinating antibody responses to DNP-As. It became clear in the study of individual mice that the variability of the IgE anti-DNP antibody response increased within advancing age, but the variability within aged mice decreased and deviation from young adult mice was less after the secondary immunization.