Progressive increase with time after sensitization in the functional affinity of T lymphocytes

The dose response relationship in peritoneal cell migration inhibition, elicited by various concentrations of ABA-Tyr, was studied in guinea pigs sensitized with a standard dose of ABA-Tyr. The reactivity to 2 × 10 −7 or 2 × 10 −8 mole/ml appeared at 2 wk, and remained at the maximum level from 4 wk to 8 mo after sensitization. The inhibition by 2 × 10 −9 mole/ml increased up to 4 mo and 2 × 10 −10 mole/ml was first inhibitory at 6 1 2 mo. The change in the slope of the dose response curve was a property of the ABA-specific cells. As there is no B-cell response to ABA-Tyr, the finding shows that the functional affinity of specific T cells progressively increases with time after sensitization.