Fixation of Bacterial Products by Erythrocytes in vivo and by Leucocytes

Abstract

IT is known that, under suitable conditions in vitro, certain substances of bacterial origin may become fixed on to the surfaces of erythrocytes of various mammalian species, rendering the cells susceptible to agglutination by the specific antibacterial serum (see refs. 1, 2). The term ‘hæmosensitin’ has been suggested for substances which sensitize erythrocytes in this way³. This phenomenon has found important practical application in serological technique; but little work has been reported on the mechanism of the fixation process, or on its possible significance in relation either to bacterial disease, to hypersensitivity, or to normal cellular physiology. In this connexion, we have considered it of interest to investigate whether hæmosensitization can take place in vivo, and also whether mammalian cell types other than erythrocytes can fix the hæmosensitins.