Desensitization Studies of Delayed Hypersensitivity

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Abstract
Summary: Delayed hypersensitive guinea pigs can be partially desensitized in a stepwise manner with increasing doses of antigen administered parenterally prior to skin testing. There is a close correlation between the size of the desensitizing dose of antigen and the increase in the amount of antigen required at the skin test site to elicit a response, suggesting the existence of a heterogeneity of binding energies for antigen in the delayed system. Data are presented showing that delayed hypersensitivity responses can be elicited in partially desensitized guinea pigs with residual circulating antigen concentrations as high as 8 × 10-8 M, while undesensitized animals will respond to as little as about 10-14 moles of antigen. These data are interpreted to argue against the participation of low concentrations of highaffinity humoral antibodies in the development of delayed hypersensitivity lesions.

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