Reversed Type Allergic Skin Reactions by Anti-γE-Globulin Antibodies in Humans and Monkeys

Abstract

The rabbit and guinea pig antisera specific for human γE-globulin induced erythema-wheal reactions in normal human individuals and increased permeability of monkey skin capillaries, whereas the antibodies specific for other immunoglobulins did not. The minimum dose of rabbit anti-γE-antibody to induce the skin reactions in both species was 10^-6 to 10^-5 µg N. The activity of the anti-γE sera was removed by absorption of the antiserum with γE-globulin. The results indicate that the skin reactions by anti-γE-antibodies are reversed type allergic reactions, and that both normal human subjects and monkeys have γE-globulin on the skin sites which are sensitized by human reaginic antibodies upon passive sensitization. A normal monkey serum and a chromatographic fraction of this serum neutralized the skin reactivity of the anti-γE serum in the monkey, indicating that monkey serum contains “γE-globulin,” which has similar antigenic structure and physicochemical properties to human γE-globulin.