Acute Inflammation Caused by Antibody in an Animal Previously Treated with Antigen

Abstract

Normal rabbits may be sensitized to the local action of horse serum by injection of serum obtained from an animal immunized by repeated injections of the antigen. Horse serum injected into the dermis of this passively sensitized animal causes acute inflammation (Arthus phenomenon). This passive transfer of sensitization shows that the blood serum of the immunized animal contains an antibody which introduced into a normal animal renders it sensitive. Furthermore, simultaneous injection of horse serum and anti-horse serum from rabbit causes acute inflammation which fails to occur when anti-horse serum is replaced by normal serum. These observations suggest the possibility that acute inflammation will occur whenever antigen and antibody come into contact within the tissues. The attempt has been made to determine whether a normal rabbit which has received horse serum will react with acute inflammation when serum from an immunized or “sensitized” animal is injected into its tissues.