INDUCTION OF A PRIMARY ANTIHAPTEN RESPONSE IN VIVO BY A GRAFT-VS.-HOST REACTION

A primary anti-NIP PFC response can be elicited by a GVH reaction provided certain structural requirements of the NIP-carrier are met. NIP-coated F₁ erythrocytes and NIP-coated parental erythrocytes give rise to substantial anti-NIP PFC responses in F₁ mice after the injection of parental spleens. These conjugates do not of themselves give rise to an anti-NIP PFC response and, in fact, normally give rise to NIP-specific tolerance. In contrast the GVH reaction is not able to enhance the primary anti-NIP PFC response to immunogenic NIP-conjugates.