A Comparative Study of the Production of Antibodies Against Human Blood Cells in Animals of Various Species

Abstract

In view of the importance of the species of animals used for the preparation of specific heteroantisera against human blood cells, comparative immunization experiments were carried out in goats, rabbit, chickens, guinea pigs, and rats, using lysates of leukocytes, granulocytes, lymphocytes, monocytes, and thrombocytes. The antisera obtained were tested by the indirect immunofluorescence technique. The strongest antisera were obtained in goats, but these antisera required extensive absorptions to make them specific for the immunizing cell, whereas rabbit antisera needed only few absorptions. Antisera from both of these animals could be rendered specific for lymphocytes, granulocytes and platelets. In the guinea pig only immunization with monocytes and granulocytes resulted in useful antisera, which were all specific for granulocytes after appropriate absorptions. Antisera obtained from rats could be rendered specific for granulocytes and lymphocytes by absorption. Antibodies against platelets could not be detected in any of the rat antisera. Chickens, however, produced strong anti-platelet antibodies. A specific anti-granulocyte antiserum could also be obtained in these animals. Specific anti-monocyte antisera could not be prepared from any of the animal sera. Immunizations with leukocyte lysate resulted in granulocyte-specific antisera in most animals but not in chickens. All antisera produced in chickens were specific for platelets. It can be concluded from these results that animals of different species may react very differenly to the antigens of some human blood cells.