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Desensitization Studies of Delayed Hypersensitivity

With Special Reference to the Possible Role of High-Affinity Antibodies¹

From The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore and the Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovoth, Israel

Abstract

Delayed hypersensitive guinea pigs can be partially desensitized in a stepwise manner with increasing doses of antigen administered parenterally prior to skin testing. There is a close correlation between the size of the desensitizing dose of antigen and the increase in the amount of antigen required at the skin test site to elicit a response, suggesting the existence of a heterogeneity of binding energies for antigen in the delayed system.

Data are presented showing that delayed hypersensitivity responses can be elicited in partially desensitized guinea pigs with residual circulating antigen concentrations as high as 8 x 10^-8 M, while undesensitized animals will respond to as little as about 10^-14 moles of antigen. These data are interpreted to argue against the participation of low concentrations of highaffinity humoral antibodies in the development of delayed hypersensitivity lesions.

Footnotes

¹ These studies were supported in part by an unrestricted gift from the Alcon Laboratories, Inc., and by the International Order of Odd Fellows Research Professorship.