RELATION BETWEEN CELL-MEDIATED IMMUNOLOGICAL RESPONSE AND INDUCTION OF CIRCULATING ANTIBODIES TO COLLAGEN IN GUINEA-PIGS - INVESTIGATION OF CELL FUNCTIONS

Abstract

Cutaneous delayed hypersensitivity reactions to collagen in guinea-pigs were partially but specifically suppressed if the animals were pretreated with collagen and Freund''s imcomplete adjuvant. Such animals responded normally to skin-reactive factor prepared with ovalbumin. Lymphoid cells from animals with normal delayed hypersensitivity to collagen functioned normally in animals with suppressed skin reactivity. Cells from animals with suppressed delayed hypersensitivity were specifically, functionally impaired since they transferred delayed hypersensitivity into neutral recipients efficiently for PPD [purified protein derivative], but not for collagen. Suppression could be induced in Cy [cyclophosphamide]-treated animals, and it persisted for at least 143 days. Guinea-pigs with depressed delayed hypersensitivity to collagen are functionally impaired with respect to those T [thymus-derived] cells normally generated by induction of delayed hypersensitivity.