Demonstration of Human, Rye Grass Pollen Extract-Specific, Helper and Suppressor Stimulating Activity of Modified Allergens by Effects on in vitro Hapten-Specific Antibody Production

Abstract

An in vivo system is described in which penicilloyl antibody was produced from peripheral leucocytes of a grass pollen-sensitive patient who had received penicillin therapy, by challenge of the cells with penicilloyl-grass pollen extract conjugate. Incubation of these leucocytes with a number of modified preparations of grass pollen extract with various T-cell-stimulating properties was shown to affect penicilloyl antibody production. Both chymotryptically fragmented rye grass pollen extract and a conjugate of f met-leu-phe and rye grass pollen extract enhanced penicilloyl-specific antibody similarly to the enhancement induced by unmodified extract, though at high concentration some suppression was seen. A conjugate of polysarcosine and rye grass pollen extract, previously shown to cause antibody suppression in mice, was similarly suppressive for penicilloyl-specific antibody. The system therefore shows potential for the evaluation of the effects of modified allergen treatment on antibody levels via T-cell mechanisms.