REGULATION OF THE IMMUNE RESPONSE: SUPPRESSIVE AND ENHANCING EFFECTS OF PASSIVELY ADMINISTERED ANTIBODY

Abstract

The ability of passively administered antibody to suppress the immune response against homologous antigenic determinants while concomitantly enhancing the response against other unrelated determinants of the same antigen molecule has been established in two distinct antigen-antibody systems: (a) guinea pig γ₂-immunoglobulin + passive anti-F(ab')₂ antibody, where suppression of anti-F(ab')₂ antibody synthesis is accompanied by enhancement of the anti-Fc response; and (b) human secretory IgA + passive anti-serum IgA antibody, where suppression of antibody production against the α and L chains accompanies augmentation of the response to the secretory component.