CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE INTENSIFIES THE ACQUISITION OF ALLERGIC CONTACT-DERMATITIS IN MICE RENDERED B-CELL DEFICIENT BY HETEROLOGOUS ANTI-IGM ANTISERA

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 37  (2) , 367-372
Abstract
Treatment with cyclophosphamide (Cy) before contact sensitization regularly intensifies the induced sensitivity. The immunopotentiation is specific and appears due to toxicity for suppressor cells. The target of Cy immunopotentiation may be a suppressor B [bone marrow-derived] cell. Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) was studied in mice rendered B cell deficient by chronic treatment, beginning at birth, with a goat antiserum against mouse Ig[immunoglobulin]M. The ACD induced in these B cell deficient mice was equal to that induced in intact mice. The hypersensitivity was readily and equally immunopotentiated by Cy in normal and in B cell deficient mice. The suppressor cell that is the target of Cy immunopotentiation is apparently not a B cell but a T [thymus-derived] cell.