Inhibition of Lymphocyte Proliferation during Parasitic Infection with Nippostrongylus Brasiliensis

It is now well established that parasitic infections can lead to the production of high titers of IgE anti parasitic antibodies in experimental animals and in man (1,2). One of the best studied experimental systems involves the ability of the nematode parasite Nippostrongylus brasiliensis (N.B.) to stimulate a high titer reaginic antibody response to worm antigens in the rat. These studies were extended by the reports of Orr and Blair that parasitic infections can cause non specific proliferation of IgE antibody response against antigens unrelated to those of the parasite (3). The amplification of an already existing IgE antibody response can be induced before infection by inoculating the a…