<原著>Immune Deviation に関する研究 : 〔第 2 篇〕人工粒子状抗原による遅延型アレルギーの抑制

Abstract

Previous investigations have shown that intravenous injection of heat-killed BCG in sensitive rabbits induces apparent but transient suppression of tuberculin sensitivity without impairment of antibody production to tuberculous antigens. This suppression of delayed hypersensitivity is an immunological phenomenon. It was thought that this phenomenon might be one form of the "Immune Deviation" described by Asherson and Stone. Tubercle bacilli are too complicated to be used as an antigen to analyse this phenomenon, but simple antigens, such as purified serum proteins might be useful for this purpose. Therefore, the writer performed similar desensitization experiments in rabbits using bovine serum albumin along with old tuberculin as antigens. Experiments of Asherson's and Stone's type were also undertaken, using the same antigens as were used in desensitization experiments. The experimental results were as follows. I. A. When rabbits immunized with Freund's complete adjuvant were challenged by an intravenous injection (Desensitization procedure) of soluble or alum-precipitated old tuberculin (O. T.), the tuberculin reaction was transiently inhibited with no change in circulating antibody titers. B. When rabbits received an intravenous injection of soluble or alum-precipitated O. T. 3 days before immunization with Freund's complete adjuvant (Asherson type procedure), the tuberculin reaction was inhibited with no change in circulating antibody titers. II. A. Desensitization procedure with alum-precipitated BSA in rabbits immunized with BSA in Freund's complete adjuvant suppressed transiently the delayed type skin reaction to BSA, but had no effect on the circulating antibody level. B. The Asherson type procedure with intravenous injection of alum-precipitated BSA 3 days before immunization with BSA in Freund's complete adjuvant suppressed the delayed type skin reaction to BSA for about ten weeks, but had no effect on the circulating antibody level. The Asherson type procedure with soluble instead of alum-precipitated BSA caused a similar suppression of delayed hypersensitivity. III. It was shown that the inhibition of delayed hypersensitivity in these experiments was antigen-specific.