The effect of antigen dosage on the formation of reagins in rabbits was studied using various routes of immunization. Upon immunization with adjuvant-incorporated haemocyanin, very high and very low antigen doses failed to induce a detectable reagin response although other antibodies were produced. Similar dose-response curves were obtained after intravenous injection of bovine y-globulin. Intravenous injection of a low dose of haemocyanin resulted in a reagin response, initially in the absence of demonstrable IgG or IgM antibodies. Upon stimulation with polymerized bovine γ-globulin it was again found that high or low doses of antigen induced reagin formation poorly. Polymerization of the antigen appeared to enhance its ability to induce reagin production at high antigen dosage, but to diminish this ability at low antigen dosage. Development of immediate hypersensitivity was observed after intranasal administration of low doses of birch pollen. The results explain previous contradictory reports as to dose dependence in reagin formation. They suggest that some reagin-forming cell precursors have high affinity for antigen and that the apparent unresponsiveness to high antigen doses may be due to consumption of circulating reagins by antigens. Although polymerization of an antigen may make it more immunogenic, the allergenicity of a substance is probably not markedly enhanced if it occurs in particulate rather than soluble form.

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© 1973 S. Karger AG, Basel
1973
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