ADJUVANT AND SUPPRESSIVE EFFECTS OF GRASS CONJUVAC AND OTHER ALGINATE CONJUGATES ON IGG AND IGE ANTIBODY-RESPONSES IN MICE

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 44  (1) , 41-50
Abstract
BALB/c mice were immunized with grass pollen extract (GPE), GPE conjugated to sodium alginate (Conjuvac) or GPE adsorbed to Al(OH)3 gel (alum). Conjuvac was a more potent immunogen than the other 2 preparations of GPE when anti-GPE IgG antibody levels were compared. The highest IgE antibody titers in the Conjuvac treated mice were some 16-fold lower than the highest titers in the mice immunized with GPE in alum. Suppressive effects of Conjuvac on IgE antibody titers were also studied. Mice were immunized with 1 .mu.g dinitrophenyl (DNP)-GPE in alum and the anti-DNP and anti-GPE IgE antibody titers determined. After 4 and 5 wk, the mice were injected with GPE or Conjuvac. The Conjuvac and GPE failed to reduce the ongoing primary anti-GPE IGE responses but both suppressed the secondary responses by up to 8-fold. The suppression was not dose-related. Ongoing primary and secondary anti-DNP IgE titers were suppressed in a dose-related manner by up to 64-fold by Conjuvac but GPE treatment was much less suppressive. The suppressive properties of DNP-alginate (DNP-alg) conjugates were investigated. In these experiments mice were immunized with 1 .mu.g DNP-ovalbumin (DNP-OA) mixed with alum. After 4 and 5 wk, the mice were injected with a dose of 6-600 .mu.g DNP-alg with an average hapten density of 2 or 10/alginate molecule. After a further 8 wk a 2nd injection of 1 .mu.g DNP-OA was given. All dose levels of both DNP-alg conjugates suppressed the continuing primary and the secondary anti-DNP IgE responses. Alginate apparently has properties similar to those of known T-cell adjuvants. Conjuvac may prove useful in the immunotherapy of atopic allergy.

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