Antigenic competition in IgE antibody production. I. Establishment of parameters involved in primary and secondary responses.

Antigenic competition was demonstrated in IgE antibody response in mice immunized with ovalbumin or DNP-ovalbumin associated with several non-related proteins: DNP-Ascaris, DNP-keyhole limpet haemocyanin or Ascaris. Simultaneous injection of two antigens caused a suppression of IgE antibody production to the test antigen, IgG1 antibody formation being only diminished under certain conditions. Competition was dose-dependent and effective only in the primary response. However, the secondary response could be also partially suppressed if the competitor antigen was given in both first and second antigenic stimulation. Competition was abolished by irradiation prior to immunization.