The structural basis of cell-mediated immunological reactions of collagen. The species specificity of the cutaneous delayed hypersensitivity reaction.

Guinea-pigs were sensitized for delayed hypersensitivity skin reactions with native rat, rabbit, fish, or human collagen or with (L-Pro-Gly-L-Pro)n, mixed with Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA). Mammalian collagens were more immunogenic than fish collagen and the synthetic, collagen-like polymer. The terminal, non-helical portions of calf and rat collagen were not required for expression of species specific cell-mediated reactions of these collagens. Although the animals could readily distinguish between mammalian collagens on one hand and fish collagen and (L-Pro-Gly-L-Pro)n on the other, the discriminatory capacity was best expressed among each of the two groups of antigens.