Protein constituents in exudates of cutaneous Arthus reactions.

Electrophoretic studies showed that the protein content and composition of inflammatory exudates in cutaneous Arthus reactions of rabbits did not differ quantitatively or qualitatively from controls. The specific antigen always produced positive skin tests. With micro-immunodiffusion specific precipitating antibody was found in most post-immunization sera, but was not demonstrable in the corresponding inflammatory exudates. Inflammation was enhanced in the lesions of Arthus reactions but revealed no distinctive qualitative features. The findings of the present and previous studies suggest that the inflammatory reaction as measured by the protein content and composition of the exudate and by the histology of the cellular responses in skin lesions produced by an immunological stimulus is stereotyped and is only affected quantitatively by the immunological state of the host.