Immunogenicity of liposomal model membranes sensitized with mono(p-azobenzenearsonic acid)tyrosylphosphatidylethanolamine derivatives. Antibody formation and delayed hypersensitivity reaction.

We have previously reported that hapten specific antibodies are produced in guinea pigs immunized with certain N-substituted phosphatidylethanolamine derivatives (either free or incorporated into liposomal membranes) in complete Freund's adjuvant. In this paper, we describe the synthesis of mono(p-azobenzenearsonic acid)tyrosylphosphatidylethanolamine (ABA-Tyr-PE). Immunication with this compound (either free or present in liposomes) not only results in the formation of anti-azobenzenearsonyl antibodies, but also confers cellular immunity as manifested by delayed hypersensitivity reactions elicited by challenge with either azobenzenearsonyl-bovine serum albumin or sensitized liposomes. Thus, ABA-Tyr-PE immunized guinea pigs differ from those immunized with azobenzenearsonyl-bovine serum albumin which produce anti-bodies but do not reveal a delayed reaction. Moreover, the ABA-Tyr-PE immunized animals differ from those immunized with mono(p-azobenzenearsonic acid)tyrosine; this substance has been shown by other investigators to confer cellular immunity without antibody formation in guinea pigs. However, the deacylated homolog of ABA-Tyr-PE (i.e., mono(p-azobenzenearsonic acid)tyrosylglycerophosphorylethanolamine) has the same immunological properties as mono(p-azobenzenearsonic acid)tyrosine. These observations justify the further exploitation of liposomal model membranes as novel immunogens that are able to elicit both cell and humoral mediated immune responses.