Hapten-specific IgE antibody responses in mice. VI. Selective enhancement of IgE antibody production by low doses of x irradiation and by cyclophosphamide

Journal Article · Mon Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1976 · J. Immunol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:7338168

Chiorazzi, N; Fox, D A; Katz, D H

Exposure of BALB/c, A/J, and (BALB/c x A/J)F/sub 1/ mice, which are IgE high responder animals, to total body x-irradiation ranging from 50 to 200 R resulted in a dose-dependent enhancement of the hapten-specific IgE antibody level as compared to unirradiated control mice. In contrast, anti-hapten antibody responses of the IgG class in these same animals were rarely enhanced, and when so, were of a lesser degree. This relatively selective augmentation of the IgE vs IgG antibody responses was observed in both unprimed and primed mice. By utilizing adoptive transfer systems, it was demonstrated that the enhancing effects of x-irradiation resulted from its action on the carrier-primed cell population and not upon the responding B cells or upon macrophages. The data presented herein suggest that this enhancement phenomenon is the result of the elimination of T cells (or their products) with suppressive functions and that these cells are neither dependent upon nor specific for the carrier antigen employed in the immunization. This hypothesis is given indirect support by the observations that treatment of the same strains of mice with cyclophosphamide, in doses known to abrogate suppressive T cell functions, resulted in a similar enhancing effect to that observed after low doses of x-irradiation.

• Research Organization: Harvard Medical School, Boston
• OSTI ID: 7338168
• Journal Information: J. Immunol.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Immunol.; (United States) Vol. 117:5; ISSN JOIMA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560152* -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Animals
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALKYLATING AGENTS
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
ANTIBODIES
ANTIBODY FORMATION
ANTIMITOTIC DRUGS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
DRUGS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ENDOXAN
GLOBULINS
IMMUNE REACTIONS
IMMUNOGLOBULINS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
MAMMALS
MICE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PROTEINS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
RODENTS
SOMATIC CELLS
THYMOCYTES
VERTEBRATES
X RADIATION