Sequence of Events in Mice Early in Immunologic Paralysis by Pneumococcal Polysaccharide

Abstract

By removing the spleens from stimulated mice at intervals and transferring them to γ-irradiated recipients, it was possible to follow the kinetics of the response to immunizing and paralyzing doses of type I pneumococcal polysaccharide (SI). A linear relationship was established between the degree of adoptive immunity and the logarithm of the number of primed cells transferred. Transient appearance of primed cells was demonstrated in mice developing immunologic paralysis; these cells could no longer be demonstrated 5 days after antigenic stimulation. Cell proliferation appeared to be required. A transient response to a very small immunizing dose similar to that following a paralyzing dose was demonstrated; unresponsiveness was not produced by this amount of SI. Immune suppression was demonstrated when mitomycin C was given prior to the administration of sheep red blood cells or SI.