[Transplantation and cellular reactions to tissue antigens in Streptococcus-immunized rabbits]

The immunization of rabbits with the cells and the disintegration products of fractions of the cytoplasmic membranes of group A streptococcus (type 1) in incomplete Freund adjuvant, introduced in a single injection into the pads of the paws, caused lesions in autoplastic skin grafts and accelerated the rejection of alloplastic skin grafts. The rabbits showed positive delayed-type skin reactions to streptococcus and homologous skin antigens, and lymphocytes specifically reacting with FITC-labeled homologous skin antigen were found in their blood. Prolonged intravenous immunization with streptococcus, which induced the formation of complement fixing antibodies to homologous skin antigens, did not influence the taking of autoplastic and alloplastic skin grafts. The injection of hyperimmune streptococcus rabbit antiserum containing antibodies to skin antigens to intact rabbits produced no lesions in the autoplastic skin grafts and prolonged the lift of the alloplastic skin grafts.