SUPPRESSION OF THE ANTI-TRIMELLITYL (TM) IGE RESPONSE IN MICE BY CONJUGATES OF TM WITH POLYVINYL-ALCOHOL

  • 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 51  (4) , 687-696
Abstract
The i.p. injection of 1 .mu.g of TM3-OA [trimellityl-ovalbumin] or TM9-OA with 1 mg of Al(OH)3 into B6D2F1 mice elicited the production of antibodies of the IgE and other classes to the TM group and OA. The induction of anti-TM antibodies belonging to the IgE and other Ig classes was specifically suppressed by the administration of tolerogenic conjugates prepared by coupling trimellitic anhydride (TMA) to the hydrophilic non-immunogenic polymer, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), prior to immunization with TM-OA conjugates. Established anti-TM responses were also suppressed by these TM-PVA conjugates. Treatment with TM-PVA conjugates did not affect either the primary or the established anti-OA antibody response. The tolerogenic effects of the PVA conjugates were dose-dependent and appeared also to be dependent on the epitope density. Treatment with these conjugates also prevented immunized mice from showing any symptoms of systemic anaphylaxis on challenge with polyvalent TM-protein conjugates. These conjugates may have the potential of useful therapeutic agents for the treatment of TMA-induced pulmonary hypersensitivity diseases.