Divalent hapten-induced intestinal anaphylaxis in the mouse: uptake and characterization of a bystander protein

We examined the mucosal barrier function during anaphylaxis induced by the hapten N,N'-di-2,4,dinitrophenyl-lysine (di-DNP-lysine) in BDF1 female mice immunized with dinitrophenylated Ascaris suum extract. Immunized mice were gavaged with 10 mg or 50 mg of ovalbumin (OVA) with or without N,N'-di-2,4,-DNP-lysine (di-DNP-lysine). Animals that received di-DNP-lysine underwent anaphylaxis and were observed to have significantly greater serum concentrations of immunoreactive OVA (iOVA) than control mice. The severity of anaphylaxis, which varied with the dose of di-DNP-lysine administered, influenced the uptake of OVA; greater amounts of iOVA were detected in serum of mice undergoing more severe anaphylaxis. On gel permeation of serum from both groups of mice, immunoreactive OVA was found to have a molecular size similar to native OVA. Di-DNP-lysine is a synthetic hapten that reliably induced anaphylaxis in sensitized animals challenged by gavage. Anaphylaxis resulted in the uptake into the circulation of greater quantities of an unrelated protein antigen present in the intestinal lumen. The protein antigen that was taken up into the circulation appeared to be intact and thus may have an influence on the development of the immune response, or lack thereof, to this bystander antigen.