[Staphylococcus aureus-induced antigen-specific immunosuppression]

In experiments made on noninbred white mice the manifestations of delayed hypersensitivity and the number of antibody-producing cells in regional lymph nodes or the spleen were determined on day 5 after the subcutaneous or intraperitoneal immunization of the animals with sheep red blood cells (SRBC). At the same time the injection of S. aureus antigens simultaneously with SRBC raises the threshold of antigenic sensitivity and decreases the manifestations of cell-mediated and humoral immune response to SRBC. This suppressive effect was even more pronounced in the local immune process and was partially mediated by the hyperproduction of prostaglandins.