Enhanced Reaginic Antibody Formation to Ovalbumin in Mice Given Repeated Injections of Concanavalin A

Abstract

Mice injected with 4 weekly doses of concanavalin A arabinogalactan complex (Con A-AG) give a secondary type of IgE response when they encounter ovalbumin (Ov) for the first time. The IgE-enhancing effect of Con A-AG immunization applies to Ov but not to various other antigens. However, no cross-reaction appears to exist at the humoral level between Con A and Ov. The apparent priming of mice to Ov by Con A can be adoptively transferred to syngeneic irradiated recipients by spleen cells.