Specific antibody responses in CD69 (-/-) mice.

Several immunization protocols were used to assess the immunoglobulin responses in CD69-deficient mice. The responses of individual mutant (filled circles) and wild-type (open triangles) mice are shown. (A) T-cell-dependent B-cell response. Results shown are from different groups: (IV), immunized with 2,4-dinitrophenyl (DNP)-keyhole limpet hemocyanin (DNP-KLH) in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), (ALUM) immunized intraperitoneally with DNP-KLH adsorbed to alum, and complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) immunized intraperitoneally with DNP-KLH mixed with CFA. CD69 (-/-) mice immunized with DNP-KLH mixed with CFA and DNP-KLH in phosphate-buffered saline produce augmented amounts of immunoglobulin (Ig) G2a (P ≤ 0.05, two-way analysis of variance). (B) T-cell-independent B-cell response. DNP-LPS CD69 (-/-) mice produce increased amounts of IgM (top panel) and IgG2a (bottom panel) antibodies after immunization. IgM and IgG2a anti-DNP titers differed significantly (P < .05) between the two groups (+/+ and -/-) by two-way analysis of variance. Other DNP-specific antibody isotypes were at similar levels in CD69 (-/-) and wild-type mice (not shown).