Production of guinea pig IgG1 homocytotropic antibodies to hapten-conjugated homologous serum albumin with different adjuvant combinations.

The effects of various antigen-adjuvant combinations on the production of IgG1 antibody was investigated with p-aminobenzoate conjugated to guinea pig serum albumin. The results demonstrate the importance that initial exposure of antigen-adjuvant combination has on IgG1 production. Further, there is a synergistic effect when antigen adsorbed to alum and antigen with complete Freund's adjuvant were used in conjunction with one another. The result of this effect is discussed within the context of T and B cell activation by antigen-adjuvant combinations.

Selective deficiency of a T cell subpopulation in active atopic dermatitis.

The T cell subpopulation bearing a receptor for the Fc fragment of IgM (T mu) or the Fc fragment of IgG (T gamma) were studied in 12 patients with active atopic dermatitis (AD) and elevated IgE (5678 I.U./ml +/- 1382) and compared with a control group with normal IgE (33 +/- 17). Values for the total lymphocytes and for absolute and relative numbers of total T and T mu cells were comparable in both groups. However, AD patients had markedly reduced relative T gamma levels, 1.8% +/- 0.4%, compared with normals, 10.5% +/- 0.7% (p less than 0.001). The patients also had reduced absolute T gamma levels, 29 +/- 7, compared with 181 +/- 36 (p less than 0.0005). This abnormality was not indicative of allergic disease in general, nor did it appear to be caused directly by serum factors. The T gamma cell deficit did reflect disease activity and correlated inversely with the levels of serum IgE in the AD patients. Thus, patients with active AD and elevated IgE have a selective reduction in circulating T gamma cells.