Immunosuppressive effects of tween 80 on mice.

The effects of Tween 80 on the humoral immune response, as measured by the Jerne plaque assay, was determined. Mice treated with Tween 80 showed a significant depression in the number of primary (IgM) plaques without a significant difference in the number of secondary (IgG) plaques. In addition, the cell-mediated responses were assessed by contact hypersensitivity to oxazolone. Mice treated with Tween 80 showed no significant decrease in contact sensitivity. Thus, the suppression caused by Tween 80 affected only the primary humoral immune response.