Increased antibody production following depression of hepatic phagocytosis.

The influence of Kupffer cell blockade on the humoral immune response to suboptimal doses of intravenous sheep red blood cells has been measured in mice. Hepatic phagocytosis was suppressed using dextran sulphate. Direct (IgM) and indirect (IgG) plaque-forming cells were measured in spleens from treated and untreated mice at varying times after the antigen. The results show that after Kupffer cell blockade both IgM and IgG responses correspond to the responses seen after a 10-fold greater dose of cells in control animals. The implications of this are discussed.