Potentiation of rat reaginic (IgE) antibody by helminth infection. Simultaneous potentiation of separate reagins.

Further evidence has been produced that rat reaginic antibody responses which have been programmed by the injection of antigen with Bordetella pertussis can be greatly potentiated by a subsequent infection with the helminth parasite Nippostrongylus brasiliensis. Potentiated responses to keyhole limpet haemocyanin and house dust extract have been demonstrated. It is shown that the timing of the parasitic infection must take into account the kinetics of the reagin response to the particular antigen under test. Simultaneous potentiation of two reagin responses could be demonstrated; occasionally selective potentiation of one reagin response was found to occur. The possible relevance of these mechanisms for the development of clinically manifest immediate hypersensitivity is discussed.