Inuction of immunological tolerance in immunoglobulin E B lymphocytes in rats.

Immunological tolerance has been induced in 2,4-dinitrophenyl (DNP)-specific bone marrow-derived or B lymphocytes of the IgE AND IgG antibody classes by treatment of rats with the DNP derivative of D-amino acid copolymer, D-glutamic acid, D-lysine (D-GL). The tolerant state is manifested as an inability of treated rats to produce serum anti-DNP antibodies and the failure of peritoneal cells from tolerant animals to release histamine following in vitro antigen challenge. The implications of these and related observations for potential therapeutic measures in clinical hypersensitivity states are discussed.