Interrelationships of Tolerance and Immunity

• Published in: The Journal of immunology (1950) Vol. 105; no. 2; pp. 370 - 378
• Main Authors: Kong, Yi-Chi M., Wiger, Donna L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01-08-1970
• ISSN: 0022-1767; 1550-6606
• DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.105.2.370

Passage of Armour bovine γ globulin (A-BGG) through the circulation of donor mice for 24 hr resulted in a preparation, P-BGG, which was essentially nonimmunogenic in recipient mice at a dose of 0.3 mg except when given in adjuvant. Immunoelectrophoresis of P-BGG against hyperimmune antiserum to A-BGG showed the presence of the major γ component but a lack of the minor fast γ component. P-BGG induced tolerance readily to the major component in adult mice; all mice challenged with P-BGG in Freund's adjuvant showed nonimmune elimination of labeled BGG and most showed either no hemagglutinins or 2-mercaptoethanol (ME)-sensitive antibodies with titers of 1:40 or below. When A-BGG was used for challenge, the hemagglutinins formed were primarily against the contaminant and were mainly ME-sensitive. In contrast, control mice given A-BGG in adjuvant and challenged with either antigen form showed immune elimination and ME-resistant antibodies with titers up to 1:2560. Attempts to prevent the removal of the phagocytizable components in A-BGG by blockade of the reticuloendothelial system with a suppressive dose of Thorotrast were unsuccessful. Pretreatment of donor mice with Thorotrast also did not affect the capacity of P-BGG to induce tolerance in the recipients.