Interference of non-specific gamma globulins with passive in vitro anaphylactic sensitization of isolated guinea-pig intestine.

Abstract

Non-specific γ globulins, when added to the incubating medium containing rabbit anti-egg albumin antibody, have been found to impede passive in vitro sensitization of the isolated guinea-pig ileum. Although this interference has been observed with the various γ globulins studied, there is a consistent difference in the intensity depending upon their zoological origin. When rabbit antibody is used for sensitization, the impeding effect of the γ globulins decreases in the following order: rabbit>man>dog>guinea pig>rat>horse>cattle>pig>chicken>goat. A certain degree of interference has been observed even with horse, cattle, chicken, and goat γ globulins, although it is impossible to passively sensitize the guinea pig with the antibodies originating from those animal species in vivo. The results reported here are difficult to reconcile with the hypothesis that the non-specific γ globulins interfere with the sensitization process by `competing' with the antibody for the same specific receptors. They rather suggest that the impeding effect of the γ globulins is due to their interaction with the antibody by some physico-chemical process, producing thus an alteration of its specific properties.