IgE antibody response to mite antigen in the mouse. Suppression of an established IgE antibody response by chemically modified antigen.

The antibody response to mite antigen in several mouse strains was studied. BALB/c, CBA, C3H/He, and C57B1 strains showed good responses against mite antigen. The AKR strain, on the other hand, showed a relatively poor response. When BALB/c mice were immunized with DNP-mite conjugate in aluminum hydroxide gel (alum), anti-DNP IgE antibody and IgG1 antibody were induced. When these mice were boosted with mite antigen alone in alum, both anti-mite IgE antibody and IgG1 antibody were induced, although these antibodies were not observed after the first immunization. Both IgE antibody responses were high and persistent. Mite antigen was denatured by alkylation and reduction in the presence of 8 M urea. Native antigen remaining in the chemically denatured antigen was removed by an immunoadsorbent method. The modified mite antigen could stimulate the carrier-specific helper cells, at least when it was injected with alum. It was also found that repeated injections of the modified mite antigen resulted in the suppression of an established IgE antibody response against mite antigen. These findings suggest possible clinical application for hyposensitization therapy.