Immunization enhances the natural antibody repertoire

Authors

  • Dylan Beinart Duke University Medical Center, Box 2605, Department of Surgery, Durham, NC 27710
  • Daniel Ren Duke University Medical Center, Box 2605, Department of Surgery, Durham, NC 27710
  • Cinthia Pi Duke University Medical Center, Box 2605, Department of Surgery, Durham, NC 27710
  • Susan Poulton Duke University Medical Center, Box 2605, Department of Surgery, Durham, NC 27710
  • Zoie E. Holzknecht Duke University Medical Center, Box 2605, Department of Surgery, Durham, NC 27710
  • Chelsea Swanson Duke University Medical Center, Box 2605, Department of Surgery, Durham, NC 27710
  • William Parker Duke University Medical Center, Box 2605, Department of Surgery, Durham, NC 27710

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17179/excli2017-500

Keywords:

immunology, cancer, vaccination, vaccine

Abstract

The role of immunization in the production of antibodies directed against immunogens is widely appreciated in laboratory animals and in humans. However, the role of immunization in the development of “natural antibodies” has not been investigated. Natural antibodies are those antibodies present without known history of infection or immunization, and react to a wide range of targets, including “cryptic” self-antigens that are exposed upon cell death. In this study, the ability of immunization to elicit the production of natural antibodies in laboratory rats was evaluated. Laboratory rats were immunized with a series of injections using peanut extracts (a common allergen), a high molecular weight protein conjugated to hapten (FITC-KLH), and a carbohydrate conjugated to hapten (DNP-Ficall). Significantly greater binding of antibodies from immunized animals compared to controls was observed to numerous autologous organ extracts (brain, kidney, liver, lung, prostate, and spleen) for both IgM and IgG, although the effect was more pronounced for IgM. These studies suggest that immunization may have at least one unforeseen benefit, enhancing networks of natural antibodies that may be important in such processes as wound repair and tumor surveillance. Such enhancement of natural antibody function may be particularly important in Western society, where decreased exposure to the environment may be associated with a weakened natural antibody repertoire.

Downloads

Published

2017-07-10

How to Cite

Beinart, D., Ren, D., Pi, C., Poulton, S., Holzknecht, Z. E., Swanson, C., & Parker, W. (2017). Immunization enhances the natural antibody repertoire. EXCLI Journal, 16, 1018–1030. https://doi.org/10.17179/excli2017-500

Issue

Vol. 16 (2017)

Section

Original articles

License

Authors who publish in this journal agree to the following terms:

  • The authors keep the copyright and grant the journal the right of first publication under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution license, CC BY 4.0. This licencse permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided that the original work is properly cited.
  • The use of general descriptive names, trade names, trademarks, and so forth in this publication, even if not specifically identified, does not imply that these names are not protected by the relevant laws and regulations.
  • Because the advice and information in this journal are believed to be true and accurate at the time of publication, neither the authors, the editors, nor the publisher accept any legal responsibility for any errors or omissions presented in the publication. The publisher makes no guarantee, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein.
  • The authors can enter into additional contracts for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version by citing the initial publication in this journal (e.g. publishing in an institutional repository or in a book).