Dissociation between proliferation and antibody formation by old mouse spleen cells in response to LPS stimulation.

Both lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced proliferation and antibody formation by C57B1/6 spleen cells from old mice were studied by measuring thymidine incorporation and plaque-forming cells (PFCs) to the 2,4-dinitrophenyl group (DNP). There was no significant difference in the proliferative response of spleen cells from young or old mice. Anti-DNP antibody formation by spleen cells from the old mice was greatly reduced. The reduced PFC response could not explained by a shift in kinetics of the responding cells. A similar dissociation could be obtained with LPS-stimulated spleen cells from young mice by using an anti-μ serum or a low concentration of hydroxyurea in the culture medium.