Selective suppression of granuloma formation and delayed hypersensitivity in rabbits.

The relationship between dermal delayed hypersensitivity (DH) and granulomatous hypersensitivity was studied in rabbits sensitized with killed mycobacteria. Specific antigen challenge of sensitized animals resulted in extensive pulmonary granulomatous inflammation and induced suppression of both dermal DH and dermal granuloma formation. Whereas suppression of DH was concomitant with pulmonary granuloma formation, as is the case in a number of granulomatous diseases, a causal relationship between the two did not exist. Both DH and dermal granulomatous hypersensitivity were significantly suppressed whether or not the antigen challenge was of a granulomagenic (particulate) or nongranulomagenic (soluble) form. The data presented indicate that granulomatous hypersensitivity and DH are selectively suppressed with regard to different anatomical sites.