SUPPRESSION OF THE IGE ANTIBODY-RESPONSE BY ASCARIS-SUUM COMPONENTS - EFFECT OF X-IRRADIATION

The effect of X-irradiation on the suppression 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 24 h before immunization with 50-mu-g OVA and 200-mu-g ASC suppressive components abolished the damping effect on anti-OVA IgE antibody levels. The same effect was observed on the anti-ASC IgE antibody response obtained in mice injected with 200-mu-g ASC immunogenic plus 200-mu-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 suppresses both the homologous (anti-ASC) and heterologous (anti-OVA) antibody formation.