The effect of mycobacterial adjuvants on immunoglobulin production in the guinea-pig

Fleming, William A (1968) The effect of mycobacterial adjuvants on immunoglobulin production in the guinea-pig. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

The effect of mycobacterial adjuvants on antibody production against soluble protein antigens has frequently been investigated. Such investigations have, however, been limited to the effect of such adjuvants on the production of 7Sy1 and 7S y2 immunoglobulin antibodies of the guinea-pig, and the development of delayed-type hypersensitivity to the injected antigen. In this thesis, the effect of mycobacterial adjuvants on the production of antibody in all immunoglobulin classes, 7Sy1, 7Sy2 and 19S, of the guines-pig has been explored. The antigen used throughout the study was bacteriophage 0X174, which is known to stimulate the production of both 19S and 7S immuno-globulin antibodies in the guinea-pig. Levels of bacteriophage neutralising antibody in the serum of animals immunised with and without the use of adjuvants were measured using the bacteriophage neutralisation test on the eighth and twenty-first days after immunisation. The different immunoglobulins were separated from immune sera by chromatography on Sephadex G-200 or DEAE-cellulose, identified by immunoelectrophoresis, and their antibody content measured. It was found that whereas mycobacterial adjuvants cause a marked increase in the production of 7S antibody, particularly of the 78?2 immunoglobulin type, no such increase occurred in the production of 19S immunoglobulin antibody. In an attempt to explain the lack of effect of mycobacterial adjuvants on the production of 19S antibody, synthesis of bacteriophage neutralising antibody by different lymphoid tissues from immunised guinea-pigs was studied in vitro at times when the predominant circulating antibody was of the 19S or 7S immunoglobulin type. These investigations produced the surprising result that, on a unit weight basis, red bone marrow was much more active in the synthesis of 19S antibody than any other lymphoid tissue studied. In contrast, lymph node tissue, particularly from lymph nodes close to the site of antigen injection, was more active in the synthesis of 7S antibody than either spleen or bone marrow. The significance of these findings is discussed with reference to previously published work, the mode of action of mycobacterial adjuvants and the relationship between the production of 19S and TS immunoglobulin antibodies.

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Keywords: Immunology
• Date of Award: 1968
• Depositing User: Enlighten Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:1968-73798
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 14 Jun 2019 08:56
• Last Modified: 14 Jun 2019 08:56
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/73798