Suppression of delayed hypersensitivity reactions in bursectomized chickens by passively administered anti-immunoglobulin antisera.

Abstract

Intravenous injection of rabbit anti-chicken immunoglobulin antisera (R anti-Ch IgG and R anti-Ch IgM) resulted in inhibition of delayed hypersensitivity (DH) reactions in bursectomized agammaglobulinemic chickens. Persistence of a high titer of circulating anti-Ig over the first 48 hr after challenge of sensitized chickens was correlated with effective inhibition of DH responses. Since both the R anti-Ch IgG and R anti-Ch IgM antisera had inhibitory effect, it is suggested that the anti-Ch L-chain component common to both antisera is responsible for inhibition. Mechanisms through which anti-Ig antibody might interfere with DH reactions are discussed.