The Rapid Adjuvant Effect in the Acquisition of Delayed Hypersensitivity to Low Molecular Weight Sensitizers in the Guinea Pig

Abstract

Guinea pigs were substantially sensitized to the low molecular weight chemicals dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB), paranitrosodimethylaniline (NDMA), Rhus extract and picric acid, by the injection of Freund’s complete adjuvant into a skin site primed several days previously with a borderline sensitizing concentration of the particular chemical. The adjuvant effect may occur in as little as two days. The skin site prepared with allergen need be present only during the early portion of the inductive phase of the hypersensitivity. It appears that enhancement takes place via a quantitative and/or qualitative stimulation of centrally-located clones of cells previously selected by antigen.

Immunopotentiation of Cell-Mediated Hypersensitivity by <i>Corynebacterium parvum (Propionibacterium acnes)</i>

“…Our findings very closely parallel our previous results with immunopotentiation by CFA of ACD in the gui nea pig [11,12]. C. parvum (in mice) and CFA (in gui nea pigs), as immunopotentiators of delayed-type hy persensitivity, have the following in common: (1) they can be given separated from the allergen; (2) they must be given into or nearby the sensitization site (probably, drainage to common lymph nodes is re quired); (3) they can be given several days after allerg en; (4) they are active in rodents already sensitized to C. parvum (data not shown), or to tubercle bacilli in the case of CFA; (5) an additive effect of Cy immuno potentiation can be found.…”