The Use of Modified Cells to Induce an Anti‐Rh Response

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Abstract
Summary Prior to their use for the primary immunization of Rh‐negative male volunteers, group O R2 R2 cells have been coated with complement and subjected to heat treatment. Eleven out of 12 men receiving complement‐coated cells developed a serologically detectable anti‐D after a single injection, but no antibodies could be detected in the sera of six volunteers receiving heated red cells. In association with doses of untreated cells and complement‐coated cells other volunteers were given small doses of anti‐D immunoglobulin. Although seven of eight men developed anti‐D when immunoglobulin was injected at the same time as the immunizing cells, there was no apparent enhancement based on the time of appearance of the antibody after immunization. In six men, anti‐D immunoglobulin was given 1 week before the injection of R2 R2 cells. None of these men developed anti‐D.Using these cells, the frequency of the immune response appears to be higher than in other studies on the primary immunization of male volunteers. However, not all the volunteers immunized in this series produced high titres of anti‐D after successive injections of Rh positive cells and the significance of this is discussed.