Ir gene controlled carrier effects in the induction and elicitation of hapten-specific delayed-type hypersensitivity responses.

Abstract
The genetic requirements of carrier recognition were examined in the priming and elicitation of hapten specific, T [thymus-derived] cell mediated, delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses. Nitrophenyl acetyl-poly-(L-Glu56-L-Lys35-L-Phe9) (NP- .**GRAPHIC**. could prime for NP responses only in strains of mice which are Ir gene responders to .**GRAPHIC**. In contrast to this requirement, .**GRAPHIC**. could elicit an NP-specific response in NP-bovine .gamma.-globulin primed mice, even in .**GRAPHIC**. nonresponder strains. The nonimmunogenic molecule, NP-GL, could elicit an NP-specific DTH response in animals primed with NP on an immunogenic carrier.