Repression of the Synthesis of Immunoglobulins in Newborn Mice by Antibodies Directed Against the Variable Region of Light Chains

Antibodies directed against the variable half of human light chains have been shown to cross-react with some mouse light chains. Injection of these antibodies into newborn mice caused a repression of the synthesis of the cross-reacting light chains. This phenomenon is analogous to the allotypic suppression caused by antiallotypic antibodies. It indicates that antigenic determinants of the variable region of mouse immunoglobulin light chains are expressed in newborn animals.