Inhibition of Antibody Formation During Continual Stimulation with a Strong Immunogen.

Long persisting antigenic stimulation at immunogenic levels leads to a profound inhibition of antibody formation. With Brucellus abortus, there is first a brief and high IgM response. IgG antibody titres remain at a low level for some days, and then begin a slow and progressive increase, leading to a rather persistent maximum, and finally after about 300 days, to the state of inhibition. When the same total dose is given with monthly intervals, the effect is quite different, with similar IgM and IgG peaks being observed after each dose. The inhibited animals respond moderately to a ten-fold higher antigen dose, and only with IgG. Six months after interruption of the persistent antigenic stimulus, a strong response can be obtained after a new antigenic stimulation, with a substantial proportion of IgM. It is concluded that persistent antigenic stimulation plays a major role in the change from IgM to IgG synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]