COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF IGG1 AND IGE ANTIBODY MEDIATED HOMOLOGOUS PCA IN THE MOUSE EAR - LACK OF CROSS-DESENSITIZATION OF IGG1 ANTIBODY MEDIATED PCA TO IGE ANTIBODY MEDIATED PCA

To characterize IgG1 antibody and IgE antibody mediated homologous passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) in the mouse ear, cross-desensitization was studied using a double-sensitizing technique. Mice were sensitized by injecting into their ears a mixture of two kinds of antibodies with distinct antigen specificities, and PCAs were elicited twice with specific antigens at an appropriate interval. The first PCA was elicited with one antigen free from Evans blue dye and the second with the other antigen in the presence of Evans blue to visualize the reaction. The amount of extravasated dye caused by the latter was determined colorimetrically and compared to that of control which did not receive the first challenge. In PCA mediated by IgG1 antibodies, elicitation of the first reaction significantly inhibited the second reaction evoked after 6, 12, or 24 h. Using IgE antibodies, elicitation of the first PCA also significantly inhibited the following reaction. Inhibition of the second reaction was observed 6 h to 12 days after the first reaction. Conversely, IgG1 antibody mediated PCA did not affect the following reaction caused by IgE antibody. These results strongly suggest that alteration of skin mast cells is smaller in IgG1 antibody than in IgE antibody mediated PCA, when reactions with a similar intensity are evoked. Therefore, it is also suggested that the slight reaction of mast cells initiated by IgG1 antibody might be potentiated by another mechanism in IgG1 antibody mediated PCA.