Immune response antibodies

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). 

Freund s adjuvant) used with an antigen to improve the immune response (antibody formation secondary to B-cell activation). Incomplete Freund s adjuvant does not contain the bacterial cells and is used to avoid an inflammatory response. See White, R.G., Factor affecting the antibody response, Br. Med. Bull. 19, 207-213, 1963 White, R.G., Antigen adjuvants, Mod. Trends Immunol. 2, 28-52, 1967 Myrvik, Q.N., Adjuvants, Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 221, 324-330, 1974 Osebold, J.W., Mechanisms for action by immunologic adjuvants, J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 181, 983-987, 1982 Warren, H.S., Vogel, F.R., and Chedid, L.A., Current status of... 

Hapten. A non-immunogenic compound of low molecular weight that becomes immunogenic after conjugation with a carrier protein or cell and in this form induces immune responses. Antibodies, but not T cells, can bind the hapten alone in the absence of carrier. 

See also The Immune Response, Antibody Structure, Generation of Antibody Diversity, T Cells and the Cellular Response, InterIeukin-2... 

Some of these groups have the characteristics of being immunogenic, that is to say they provoke an immune response (antibody synthesis, cellular reaction). This explains their medical importance in transfusions and transplantations. But apart from that, the blood groups, by their genetically determined polymorphism, permitted for many decades, on the one hand, paternity testing to be carried out and, on the other hand, the inclusion or exclusion of a person in a criminal case. 

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