Agglutination of Erythrocytes in vivo in Mice after Injection of Ascaris Extracts,Related to Immunization with Human Erythrocytes

Summary

Mice of an A strain were injected intraperitoneally with suspensions of human erythrocytes of Groups B and O, and of subgroups A₁ and A₂. Ten to 15 days after last injection of erythrocytes the animals and normal controls were injected intravenously with 1 mg of an extract prepared from cuticle of Ascaris lumbricoides. The purpose of immunization with erythrocytes was to determine whether the α₁, α₂, β, and anti-O agglutinins, developing as a result of artificial immunization, would react in vivo with cuticular extract. Histopathological examination of livers and kidneys disclosed: 1. Agglutination of erythrocytes with formation of large clumps in liver and kidneys was seen only in animals immunized against A₂ erythrocytes followed by the cuticular extract. This did not occur in mice inoculated with erythrocytes of Groups B and O and subgroup A₁, also injected with the cuticular extract. No such changes were seen in liver and kidneys of normal mice inoculated with A₂ erythrocytes or cuticular extract alone. Agglutination takes place, therefore, between α₂ agglutinins in plasma and the A₂ isoagglutinogen-like factor in the extract. These findings indicate a definite relationship between blood groups and pathological changes produced by infectious organisms.