Differential induction of anti‐trinitrophenyl plaque‐forming cell responses to lightly and heavily conjugated trinitrophenylated heterologous and autologous erythrocytes in mice

Various anti‐TNP PFC (2,4,6‐trinitrophenyl plaque‐forming cell) responses were obtained by injecting C3H mice with different conjugates of trinitrophenylated sheep red cells (TNP‐SRC). Mice which were injected with lightly conjugated TNP‐SRC (TNP_0.14SRC) produced indirect anti‐TNP PFC 4 days after injection, while mice which were injected with heavily conjugated TNP‐SRC (TNP₁₄SRC) produced both direct and indirect anti‐TNP PFC or direct anti TNP PFC only. Heavily conjugated trinitrophenylated autologous mouse red cells elicited a low direct anti‐TNP PFC response 4 days after injection. The system is another example of the capacity to modify antibody responses by modification of the antigen.