The Adjuvant Action of Latex Particulate Carriers

Abstract

Polystyrene latex particles, with human γ-globulin adsorbed to their surface, acted as an adjuvant to antibody production. Several features of this adjuvancy were studied. It was found that the enhanced antibody response was present during the primary immune response but could not be demonstrated on secondary stimulation. No adjuvant effect occurred unless the FII and latex particle were in direct contact with one another. The antibody production during the immune response was dose-dependent on the amount of protein antigen used and was unaffected by very wide variations in the number of particulate carriers utilized, or the diameter of the particulate carrier (range from 500 Å to 13,000 Å). Antigenicity was not increased when fewer protein molecules were adsorbed per latex particle. During this adjuvant-induced primary antibody response the antibody population was initially composed of 19 S and 7 S molecules, followed later by 7 S antibody. The data obtained suggested that the adjuvant effect of the human FII latex particulate carrier system was due to alteration of the configuration of the protein rather than being a result of changes in phagocytic uptake and handling.