Hapten-carrier system

In an immune response, antibodies are produced and secreted by the B-lymphocytes in conjunction with the T, cells. In the majority of hapten-carrier systems, the B cells end up producing antibodies that are specific for both the hapten and the carrier. In these cases, the T lymphocytes will have specific-binding domains on the carrier, but will not recognize the hapten alone. In a kind of synergism, the B- and T-cells cooperate to induce a hapten-specific antibody response. After such an immune response has taken place, if the host is subsequently challenged with only the hapten, usually it will respond by producing hapten-specific antibodies from memory cells formed after the initial immunization. For a review of immunobiology (see Janeway, 2004). 

Absence of information on the hapten-carrier systems in humans... 

Reichert, C. M., C. Carreu, M. Jolivet, F. Audibert, P. Lefranoer. and L. Chedid Synthesis of N-acetyl-muramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine (MDP) containing conjugates and their use as a hapten-carrier system Mol. Immunol. 17, 357 (1980). 

These chemical functions are primarily responsible for metabolic activity besides, all active functions of a small hapten should remain accessible in the hapten carrier conjugate to obtain the most exquisitely specific antibody immunoglobulin (IgG) population of which the immune system is capable,... 

Metabolism (e.g., CYPs, COX, Myeloperoxidase) Hapten-Carrier formation (e.g., binding with proteins or aminoacids) PLNA (s.c. injection, indication of possibility to induce systemic allergy) (read-out immunological parameters) Susceptible animals mouse (e.g., NZB, NOD) or rat (BN, Lewis) strains. Parameters for example, autoimmune parameters, histopathology... 

Polyclonal antibodies Antibodies derived from a mixture of cells, hence containing various populations of antibodies with different amino acid sequences. They are of limited use in that they will not all bind to the same epitopes following immunization with a hapten carrier protein conjugate. They are also difficult to purify and characterize, but have been used with success in the catELISA system. 

Green I, Paul WE, Benacerraf B (1968) Hapten carrier relationships in the DNP-PLL foreign albumin complex system induction of tolerance and stimulation of cells in vitro. J Exp Med 127 43-53... 

The epitope, considered as an allergenic determinant, may also consist of the shape of the hapten-carrier protein conjugate. The identical or very close, three-dimensional shape of the different epitopes explains the possibility of cross-immune response. On the contrary, a geometric conformation change, which can sometimes be secondary, may prevent a specific recognition by the immune system. Some examples will illustrate this concept. First, let s study some examples of similarities. 

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