Passive Transfer of Atopic Hypersensitiveness in Man by Means of Leucocytes.

Abstract

Viable leucocytes were obtained from heparinized venous blood of allergic patients. The avg. yield from each 10 ml. of donor''s blood was 0.028 ml. of cellular sediment which was resuspended in Tyrode soln. and used for passive local sensitization. Sedimented erythrocytes and cell-free plasma obtained from the same blood samples were also used for attempts at passive local sensitization. Intracut. injn. of viable leucocytes obtained from the blood of atopic subjects who respond with immediate whealing reactions to skin tests with common allergens may specifically and locally sensitize the skin of normal recipients. Red blood cells lack this skin-sensitizing property.