Prolongation of Skin Homografts by Rabbit Anti-Mouse Lymphocyte Serum in Mice Rendered Tolerant to Rabbit γ-Globulin

[摘要] Balb/C mice readily form antibodies to the γ-globulin portion of rabbit anti-mouse lymphocyte serum (ALS) as indicated by immune elimination of 131I-rabbit γ-globulin. Mice were rendered tolerant to rabbit γ-globulin (RGG) by injection of “biologically filtered” RGG prior to grafting with tail skin from C3H mice. Animals were shown to be tolerant by their failure to demonstrate immune elimination of 131I-RGG and by the lack of precipitating antibodies to RGG in their sera. Tolerant and nontolerant mice were given either a single injection or a series of injections of ALS after grafting. In all cases, whether single or multiple injections of ALS were given, animals tolerant to RGG retained their grafts for a longer period than nontolerant animals. These results were attributed to a decreased rate of elimination of the active γ-globulin component of ALS in mice rendered tolerant to RGG. However, both tolerant and nontolerant mice showed the same suppression of white blood cell count and lymphocyte count after an injection of ALS and both groups showed the same rate of return toward normal.Of interest was the finding that heat-treated (63°C) RGG, as well as “biologically filtered” RGG, induced immunologic tolerance to the γ-globulin fraction of ALS and prolonged skin grafts after administration of ALS. On the other hand, active immunization with RGG in complete Freund's adjuvant did not shorten graft survival in ALS-treated mice.

[学科分类] 生物科学（综合）