The in Vitro Quantitative Relationship between Two Systems Affecting Blood Leukocytes in Inflammatory Hypersensitivity Reactions Resulting from Different Antigens

Abstract

Summary Leukocyte agglutination has been demonstrated to occur in the presence of microgram quantities of antigenic agents in blood from both sensitive and nonsensitive animals. The amount necessary to produce the leuko-agglutinating response is from 10 to 100 times more in blood from nonsensitive animals. The leuko-agglutinating response has been produced with egg albumin, γ-globulin, and pneumococcal polysaccharide. A heat stable, nondializable factor which can produce leukocyte agglutination has been identified in the water soluble serum globulin fraction from animals with inflammation. This factor when diluted 1/2000 to 1/5000 is still able to accentuate and at least in certain instances reduce the threshold of the leuko-agglutinating response to the 3 unrelated antigens. The Inflammatory Leukocyte Agglutinating Factor is inhibited by hydrocortisone, whereas, the action of antigen in the leuko-agglutinating system is not.