Analysis of antibody production induced by allogeneic tumor cells inoculated into the anterior chamber of the eye.

Humoral immune responses to alloantigens on P815 mastocytoma cells placed into the anterior chamber of murine eyes were studied. The results show that: (1) the amount of specific serum antibody produced by recipients of intracamerally injected P815 cells is directly proportional to the degree of immunogenetic disparity between the recipient and the injected cells; (2) destruction of allogeneic intraocular tumors is mediated, at least in part, by specific antibodies; and (3) retention of allogeneic tissue within the anterior chamber for 3 to 4 days after inoculation is essential to the elicitation of specific antibody formation. We conclude that alloantigens introduced into the anterior chamber are presented to the systemic immune apparatus in a very unique manner resulting in the preferential stimulation of specific antibody production without awakening specific cell-mediated immunity.