Antibody suppression in mice infected with Nippostrongylus brasiliensis

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
A/SN mice infected with N. brasiliensis showed depressed anti-DNP [dinitrophenyl] antibody responses following immunization with DNP-Asc [Ascaris] in alum. The immunosuppression was only observed when infection preceded immunization by 2-7 days and was not achieved when the interval was extended to 10 days. The suppression lasted at least 50 days and affected IgE levels more than IgG1 or IgG agglutinating anti-DNP antibodies. A high dose of infective larvae (500-1000/mouse) was necessary to induce suppression. The use of low dose irradiation indicated a parasite-induced radiosensitive component of the mouse immune system which negatively regulated the anti-DNP IgE response. The parasite could induce suppression in an analogous manner to sequential antigen-induced suppression.