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IgG and IgA Diphtheria Antitoxin Responses from Human Tonsil Lymphocytes¹

From the Department of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine at the Good Samaritan Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland 21239

Abstract

Human tonsil lymphocytes were stimulated with diphtheria toxoid and then cultured in a Marbrook culture system so that antibodies could be measured in the culture supernatant. Specific antibodies were measured with excess radiolabeled antigen and antisera specific for each immunoglobulin class. Good IgG and IgA diphtheria antitoxin responses have been obtained and responding culture supernatants were shown to neutralize toxin. The relationship between antitoxin response in vitro and immunization of donors with toxoid was investigated. It was found that at least two immunizations after the age of 6 months were necessary to prime the tonsils for an in vitro antibody response.

The IgG and IgA in culture supernatants were demonstrated by immunodiffusion and were measured by radioimmunoassay. By sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation, it was shown that 40% of the IgA produced in the cultures was greater than 7S. Evidence was obtained that neither the IgA nor the specific IgA antitoxin bears secretory piece. It appears that human lymphocytes from tonsils produce polymer IgA in vitro without secretory piece.

Footnotes

¹ This work was supported by Research Grant 11202 from the United States Public Health Service. This is publication 154 from The O'Neill Laboratories of the Good Samaritan Hospital.

² Postdoctoral trainee supported by Training Grant T01-AI-00423 from the National Institutes of Health.

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