Whether the power to produce antibodies is widely distributed among the cells of the body or whether it is limited more or less strictly to certain cells or tissues has not been determined definitely. Under the guidance of Ehrlich's lateral chain hypothesis which, broadly speaking, assumes that any cell that takes up or binds antigen can produce the corresponding antibody or antibodies, certain experiments have been made for the purpose of determining whether the tissues at the site of the introduction of antigen respond by a local production of antibody. The tissues in question are the conjunctiva and those of the anterior chamber of the eye; the tissues of the pleura and peritoneum; and the subcutaneous tissues.

Local production of antibodies in certain tissues, such as the conjunctiva and eye, suggests that the power to produce antibodies is widely distributed among cells in the body.

Paper

On the Local Production of Antibodies

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