KEYHOLE LIMPET HEMOCYANIN (KLH) - A POTENT ANTIGEN IN REAGINIC SENSITIZATION OF MICE AND RATS - A COMPARISON WITH EGG-ALBUMIN (EA)-INDUCED REACTION

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 28  (4) , 533-539
Abstract
Two distinct antigenic functions of KLH [keyhole limpet hemocyanin] and EA [egg albumin] were tested in 4 inbred strains of mice (BALB/c, 129, C3H/A, C57BL/6J); stimulation of reaginic antibody production after s.c. introduction of antigen in alum-precipitated form, and ability to elicit an anaphylactic reaction in vitro on pre-sensitized peritoneal mast cells. KLH was more effective than EA in both functions tested, inducing higher titers of IgE and IgG1 antibody levels in the sera as well as higher percentage of histamine release from actively and passively sensitized peritoneal mast cells. Two different KLH forms (associated and dissociated) were tested for potency in stimulating an anaphylactic sensitization of mice and rats and capacity to elicit an anaphylactic reaction on their peritoneal mast cells in vitro. In all rats as well as in BALB/c, 129 and C3H/A mice sensitization with dissociated KLH resulted in a higher percentage of antigen-induced histamine release from peritoneal mast cells (an exception: mast cells of C57BL/6J mice released a little more histamine on the challenge with associated KLH). The passive cutaneous anaphylaxis tests show that the dissociated KLH does not act through greater antibody formation stimulation.