Rabbit 19S antibodies with allotypic specificities of the a-locus group

Activity of bacteriophage T4 neutralizing antiserums obtained 8 days after a primary immunization of rabbits with purified phage T4 is due to antibodies of the 19S (IgM) type. This neutralizing activity could be partially inhibited by treatment with excess antiserum directed against the a-locus group allotypic specificity carried by the whole rabbit serum.

Nonspecific factors in resistance of mice to experimental tuberculosis

Youmans, Guy P. (Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Ill.), and Anne S. Youmans. Nonspecific factors in resistance of mice to experimental tuberculosis. J. Bacteriol. 90:1675-1681. 1965.-In contrast to viable attenuated mycobacterial cells, Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) did not produce an acute pulmonary granulomatous response in mice, did not decrease the tolerance of mice to early subsequent intravenous injections of viable attenuated mycobacterial cells, nor did it increase susceptibility to tuberculous infection when injected simultaneously with virulent mycobacterial cells. When the injection of E. coli LPS was followed by the intravenous injection of virulent mycobacterial cells, there was a moderate increase in resistance to tuberculous infection which was maximal 7 to 14 days after the LPS injection. The degree of increased resistance to tuberculous infection was approximately the same as that produced by nearly maximal tolerated doses of heat-killed attenuated mycobacterial cells, and to that produced by a trichloroacetic acid extract of heat-killed attenuated mycobacterial cells. It is suggested that the major, if not entire, immunizing component of heat-killed attenuated mycobacterial cells resides in a heat-stable "nonspecific" component. A "multiple response" theory of immunity to tuberculosis is proposed.

Immunogenicity and role of size: response of guinea pigs to oligotyrosine and tyrosine derivatives

Guinea pigs injected with 100 micrograms of p-azobenzenearsonate derivatives of hexa-L-tyrosine, tri-L-tyrosine, or N-acetyl-L-tyrosine amide, in complete Freund's adjuvant, developed, after 10 to 19 days, delayed-type hypersensitivity to these substances. This was shown by skin reactions, followed by the formation of circulating antibodies that were detectable by passive cutaneous anaphylaxis. Experiments with p-azobenzenearsonate-hexa-L-tyrosine labeledwith iodine-131 showed that this substance was bound in vitro to proteins of normal guinea pig serum. Binding was similar with the nonantigenic hexa-L-tyrosine and its p-azobenzoate derivative.

Some Aspects of Immunity in Tumors

This is a review of the main advances in the immunology of tumors. The paper starts from the researches which have led to the identification of the histocompatibility systems and to the formulation of the transplantation laws. After a hint at the different kinds of transplantable tumors, at the grafting technique and at the exceptions of the above laws, the problem of the heterologous grafting and of the so-called privileged sites is taken into consideration. Mention is made of the non-genetic factors which may influence the take of a tumor graft. Next, the actual and debated problem of the tumor specific antigens and, on the opposite side, of the antigenic semplification of tumors is illustrated. Successively, the paper deals with the immunologic reactions by which the host tissues may antagonize the taking of a tumor graft and, conversely, with those like the «enhancement» or «XYZ effect» which promote the multiplication of the neoplastic cells. The review ends with a chapter on the conditioning both of the tumor graft and of the host, i.e., on that complex of biological, chemical and physical treatments which are apt to prolong the survival of a homograft.

Distribution among the gamma-globulin molecules of different genetically determined antigenic specificities in the Gm system

Isolated myeloma proteins and anti-Rh antibodies were utilized for determination of the distribution among the gamma-globulin molecules of various Gm(b) and Gm(f) determinants. All of these genetic factors are as a rule inherited together in Caucasians, but not in other races. The Gm(b) determinants, except (b(2)), were found together in the same Caucasian myeloma globulins of the Vi H chain group, which never carried Gm(f) or (b(2)). The Gm(f) and (b(2)) determinants were found together in other myeloma globulins, of the We group. Anti-Rh antibody molecules appeared to be similar to myeloma molecules in these respects. A few myeloma proteins and anti-Rh antibodies were encountered which reacted with some but not other anti-Gm(b) or anti-Gm(f) reagents; the only available Vi type myeloma protein from a Negro, specifically lacked the Gm(b(3)) factor. The observations might be explained by the following hypothesis: In Caucasians with the common Gm(f) Gm(b) gene complex the Gm(b) antigenic determinants, except (b(2)), co-occur in certain molecules, which contain a polypeptide chain determined by the Gm(b) gene; the Gm(f) and (b(2)) determinants co-occur in other molecules, which contain a polypeptide chain determined by the Gm(f) gene. Individuals that lack some Gm(b) or Gm(f) determinants most likely have a gene partly different from Gm(b) or Gm(f). The value of studies with myeloma proteins from individuals of different racial groups was apparent from this study. One myeloma protein from a Chinese was unique in that it was both Gm(a+) and Gm(f+).

Phylogenetic origins of antibody structure. I. Multichain structure of immunoglobulins in the smooth dogfish (Mustelus canis)

The elasmobranch Mustelus canis has been shown to produce antibodies to Limulus hemocyanin. The serum of both normal and immunized M. canis contains immunoglobulins having sedimentation coefficients of approximately 7S and 17S. Antibody activity was found in the 17S immunoglobulin which may be dissociated to 7S components with concomitant loss of activity. Both 17S and 7S serum, immunoglobulins were antigenically identical. They consisted of light and heavy chains present in amounts comparable to those of higher vertebrates. Peptide maps indicated that the light chains had an entirely different primary structure than the heavy chains, but that the corresponding chains of 7S and 17S dogfish serum immunoglobulins were similar in primary structure. The heavy chains appeared to resemble the n chains of immunoglobulins of higher vertebrates in their starch gel electrophoretic behavior. It is suggested that the elasmobranch M. canis may have only one major class of immunoglobulins resembling that of macroglobulins (gammaM-immunoglobulins) seen in higher vertebrates. The results indicate that the multichain structure of antibodies is an ancient evolutionary development.

Primary immune reactions in organ cultures

Primary immune reactions were initiated and maintained in vitro. Spleen explants from mice treated with either phytohemagglutinin or adjuvant were stimulated to form hemagglutinins and hemolysins, whereas no treatment of spleen donors was necessary to invoke a "graft-versus-host" response which led to specific splenomegly.

The secondary antibody response in tissue culture. I. Observations on prolonged antibody synthesis by lymph node fragments in media of different composition

Lymph node fragments obtained from rabbits immunized 4–9 months previously were cultured in Eagle's medium supplemented with normal rabbit serum or with serine. Upon secondary stimulation with the specific antigen (rat albumin) in vitro, antibody production which lasted over 4 weeks was observed. A difference in the course of antibody synthesis was established in the two different media. In the presence of normal rabbit serum, peak titers of antibody were reached 7–13 days after secondary stimulation, while, in the presence of serine, highest titers were observed on days 13–19. Furthermore, antibody titers diminished faster in the normal rabbit serum cultures as compared to those in the serine cultures. If hydrocortisone was added to culture media containing serine, antibody production by the lymph node fragments followed a pattern similar to that for cultures containing normal rabbit serum. The possible significance of these findings is discussed.