Immunologic Unresponsiveness in the Adult Guinea Pig

[摘要] The induction of an antigen-specific state of immunologic unresponsiveness in the adult guinea pig has been extended to include several protein antigens other than serum proteins, with widely differing physical and antigenic properties. The extent of immunologic suppression varied with different antigens and could not be correlated with the molecular weight of the antigen. Single intravenous (i.v.) injections of human serum albumin (HSA), bovine γ-globulin (BGG), ovalbumin, ferritin, hemocyanin and ribonuclease at the time of sensitization with the same antigen in complete Freund's adjuvant resulted in moderate to marked depression of the expected delayed skin test reactivity as well as a variable depression of antibody formation. Hemolytic antibody (7S γ2 and macroglobulin) was completely suppressed with HSA, BGG, ribonuclease and ferritin but only incompletely with hemocyanin. Specific 7S γ1 antibody (detected by PCA) was suppressed with all antigens tested except ribonuclease and hemocyanin. Animals receiving an i.v. injection of hemocyanin actually developed higher 7S γ1 antibody titers than animals receiving only the sensitizing injections in adjuvant.Suspending the “suppressing” antigen (HSA) in incomplete Freund's adjuvant led to a striking depression of delayed skin test reactivity and hemolytic antibody formation, whereas 7S γ1 titers were identical with those of animals receiving either injection alone.Delayed skin test reactions and hemolytic antibody titers were also strikingly depressed in the adult rat following a single intravenous injection of HSA in saline at the time of sensitization with the same antigen in complete Freund's adjuvant.

[学科分类] 生物科学（综合）