Actively induced thrombocytopenia in the marmoset. A possible autoimmune model.

Inoculation of S. oedipus marmosets with white blood cells and platelets from another species of marmosets, S. fuscicollis, led to an acute and fatal thrombocytopenia. Antibody in the recipients to the immunizing platelets was found by agglutination and indirect immunofluorescence; also, serum from the afflicted animals passively induced thrombocytopenia in S. fuscicollis marmosets. Similar inoculations of S. oedipus marmosets with platelet-free white blood cell preparations from the same donors were without any clinical effect; also, immunization with autologous, allogeneic (unrelated S. oedipus) or human platelets, did not cause the disease, even though antibody to the latter species of platelets, human, was formed in the recipients. Failure to detect antibody to autologous (or allogeneic) platelets in the afflicted animals suggests induction of a disease process similar to that of post-transfusion purpura,where it has been speculated that the thrombocytopenia results from the adherence of antigen (donor) antibody complexes to host platelets, leading to their destruction by the reticuloendothelial system. The severity and consistency of inducing the disease in the marmoset by an active immunization process suggests this system may serve as an excellent animal model for autoimmune diseases falling within the syndrome of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in man.