Comparative specificity data have been presented for the interaction of anti-hapten antibody with a series of structurally related haptens and for the stimulation by hapten-guinea pig albumin (GPA) conjugates of DNA synthesis in lymph node cell cultures from guinea pigs immunized with a given conjugate.
A good correlation in the specificity of serum anti-hapten antibody and in the specificity of stimulation of DNA synthesis has been demonstrated. Thus, mutual serologic and stimulatory cross-reactivity exist between the aminocaproates and GPA conjugates of the p-iodophenysulfonyl and toluenesulfonyl groups. Poor or undetectable serologic and stimulatory cross reactivity exist in the other combinations tested.
The data is consistent with the notion that the interaction of antigen with an antibody-like cellular receptor is crucial to the elicitation of cellular immune responses.