Restoration of Immune Competence in Tolerant Mice by Parabiosis to Normal Mice

These studies demonstrate that mice tolerant to human gamma globulin (HGG) regain their ability to make antibody to HGG after parabiosis to normal mice. This can be demonstrated by enumeration of PFC in the spleens of both the normal and tolerant partners. Hemagglutinin titers of normal-tolerant parabionts, however, are exceptionally low; serum antibody appears to be neutralized by circulating HGG present originally in the serum of the tolerant partner. These data support the hypothesis that tolerance to HGG in mice is a "defective" state due to the absence of cells capable of responding to this antigen.