ACCELERATED BREAKDOWN OF IMMUNOLOGICAL TOLERANCE FOLLOWING WHOLE BODY IRRADIATION

Journal Article · Tue May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1962 · Journal of Immunology (U.S.)

OSTI ID:4780099

Makela, O; Nossal, G J.V.

on immunologic tolerance were studied in rats made toler ant from birth to bovine serum albumin (BSA) or mouse erythrocytes. The unresponsiveness, though not always complete, remained constant in a given animal if antigen injections were continued. In animals irradiated with 550 or 660 r the tolerance usually broke down, with the formation of substantial amounts of antibody. Normal animals also irradiated at a similar age and given repeated injections of mouse erythrocytes formed excess antibody during the 5th to the 13th postirradiation week. By contrast, irradiated rats receiving a single injection of BSA in Freund's adjuvant formed less antibody than did nonirradiated controls. Two possible ways in which irradiation may abolish tolerance are propsed. If tolerance depends on the presence of antigen in immunologically competent cells, the rapid proliferation of cells during recovery from radiation damage may dilute the antigen below an inhibitory threshold. Alternatively, if tolerance is due to inactivation of certain antibody-forming cells, during the regeneration process new, immunologically competent cells may arise. (H.H.D.)

• Research Organization: Stanford Univ., Palo Alto, Calif.
• NSA Number: NSA-16-028840
• OSTI ID: 4780099
• Journal Information: Journal of Immunology (U.S.), Journal Name: Journal of Immunology (U.S.) Vol. Vol: 88; ISSN JOIMA
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

AGE
ALBUMINS
ANIMAL CELLS
ANTIBODIES
ANTIGENS
BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
BLOOD SERUM
BODY
ERYTHROCYTES
IMMUNITY
IRRADIATION
MICE
QUANTITY RATIO
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATION INJURIES
RATS
RECOVERY