DELAYED-HYPERSENSITIVITY IN MICE INDUCED BY INTRAVENOUS SENSITIZATION WITH SHEEP ERYTHROCYTES - EVIDENCE FOR TUBERCULIN TYPE DELAYED-HYPERSENSITIVITY OF REACTION

Abstract

Delayed hypersensitivity (DH) reactions can be induced in mice by i.v. sensitization with sheep erythrocytes (SRBC). As the sensitizing procedure is quite different from a usual mode of sensitization for DH using complete Freund''s adjuvant (FCA), the nature of this reaction has been a matter of controversy. In an attempt to characterize this reaction, special interest was placed on 2 possibilities regarding the nature of this reaction; Jones-Mote reaction or tuberculin type DH. From the kinetics study on the DH after challenge, the DH reaction to SRBC in mice by i.v. sensitization was clearly distinguished from the Arthus reaction. The dose-response pattern of this reaction suggested that the contribution of Arthus reactivity to delayed reactivity was negligible. Cell reconstitution experiments revealed this DH to be quantitatively thymus cell dependent. This DH required macrophages at its manifestation stage, and appearance of basophil infiltration at the lesion was absent. Strain difference and aging of host mice influenced the DH reaction in exactly the same fashion in which these factors influence the tuberculin type-DH induced by s.c. sensitization with methylated human serum albumin (MHSA) in FCA. This DH reaction can be categorized as the tuberculin type.