Suppression of the IgE antibody response by Ascaris suum components: effect of x-irradiation

ABSTRACT

The effect of X-irradiation on the supperession of IgE antibody responses induced by some of the Ascaris suum (ASC) components was analyzed in mice (7-week old A?Sn females). Treatment with 300 R 24h before immunization with 50 *g OVA and 200 *g ASC suppressive components abolished the damping effect on ati-OVA IgE antibody levels. The same effect was observed on the anti-ASC IgE antibody response obtained in mice injected with 200 *g ASC immunogenic plus 200 *g ASC suppressive components. Moreover, the failure of suppressive components to induce an IGE anti-ASC antibody response on their own was also abolished by X-irradiation. These results indicate that the suppressive components are able to elicit an IgE antibody response, but simultaneously activate a regulatory mechanism which suppressive both the homologous (anti-ASC) and heterologous (anti-OVA) antibody formation