Studies on the Adjuvant Action of Bacterial Endotoxins on Antibody Formation

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Abstract
Summary: Experiments designed to test the hypothesis that the adjuvant action of endotoxins might be mediated through cell damage, release of nucleic acids, and subsequent stimulation of division of potential antibody forming cells, are reported. When given to the inbred mouse, BALB strain, with, or up to 14 hr after, a single injection of bovine γ-globulin (BGG), 5 fluoro-2-deoxyuridine (FUDR) enhanced the antibody response. In contrast, FUDR, given 18 hr or more after antigen, inhibited the synthesis of antibody, unless endotoxin had been given with the antigen. In the latter instance, the antibody response was not only permitted, but accentuated. The postulated intermediates, nucleic acids, were shown to decrease the induction period and enhance the level of anti-BGG when given with antigen. Digestion of the nucleic acids with nucleases did not affect their adjuvant action unless low molecular weight products were removed by dialysis. The latter, when concentrated from the dialysate by lyophilization, were shown to have retained adjuvant activity.

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