# IMMUNOGENETIC ANALYSIS OF B CELL DIFFERENTIATION

> **NIH NIH R01** · BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY · 1987 · $177,427

## Abstract

The long-term objectives of the research are to understand B cell
development, the mechanisms which regulate the antigen-specific stimulation
of B cell subsets, and the mechanisms which influence the selective
expression of the immunoglobulin (Ig) idiotypic repertoire by B cell
subsets.  The proposed research focuses on Ig gene usage and idiotypic
expression by the B cells in neonatal mice, in mice expressing the X-linked
immune deficiency gene (xid), and in normal adult mice whose B cell
population is a continuum of heterogeneous cells.  These B cell populations
are of interest because the Ig repertoire available in neonatal mice for
immunity is limited and restricted, and the X-linked immune deficiency
syndrome of xid mice is similar to that of humans.  A premise of the
research is that antigen directs which B cell subsets are stimulated and
thus influences the selective expression of the idiotypic repertoire.
Therefore, several antigenic forms of (T,G)-A--L are used:  the random
polypeptide (T,G)-A--L (type 2), the defined peptide TyrTyrGluGluAla
coupled to hemocyanin (type 1), and (T,G)-A--L coupled to bovine serum
albumin (type 1).  The specific aims are (1) to examine the developmental
expression of VH and VL genes specific for the type 1 and type 2 forms of
(T,G)-A--L by neonatal B cells, (2) to determine whether neonatal, xid, and
normal adult B cells use the same germline Ig genes in response to type 1
and 2 forms of (T,G)-A--L, (3) to examine the restriction versus
heterogeneity of the primary versus secondary response of neonatal, xid,
and normal adult B cells to these antigens, and (4) to determine whether
neonatal, xid and normal adult B cells undergo the same levels of somatic
diversification in their expressed Ig genes.  The methodology includes the
splenic focus assay for B cell cloning, production of monoclonal
anti-idiotopic antibodies, idiotypic and idiotopic analysis by
radioimmunoassay, and Ig gene analysis by Southern and Northern blots, by
DNA cloning, and by RNA sequencing.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3125549
- **Project number:** 5R01AI013725-11
- **Recipient organization:** BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** MXLZGAMFEKN5
- **Principal Investigator:** JOAN L PRESS
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $177,427
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1977-09-01 → 1989-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3125549

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3125549, IMMUNOGENETIC ANALYSIS OF B CELL DIFFERENTIATION (5R01AI013725-11). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3125549. Licensed CC0.

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