Abstract
Summary
In vitro sensitization of non-allergic human leukocytes by plasma from ragweed sensitive subjects was carried out. In 10 attempts with 6 sensitive plasmas and 7 normal bloods, only 3 pairs of individuals provided systems which demonstrated passive sensitization as determined by histamine release in presence of ragweed antigen. This finding is not related to major blood group incompatibility, and is unexplained. Diluted sensitive plasma brings about less histamine release. Plasma obtained from sensitive whole blood previously treated with ragweed antigen confers a diminished capacity upon normal cells to release histamine. There was no evidence that such plasmas possessed anaphylatoxin-like activity.
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