Polyfunctional dinitrophenyl haptens as reagents for elicitation of immediate type allergic skin responses.

Dinitrophenyl derivatives of differing molecular weights and degrees of substitution have been contrasted with respect to their ability to elicit immediate type allergic responses and their capacity to induce antibody formation in the guinea pig. In contradistinction to dinitrophenyl-proteins, bis-DNP-lysine and DNP-polylysines (including a 100,000 molecular weight derivative) failed to induce antibody detectable by guinea pig passive cutaneous anaphylaxis. Dinitrophenyl-polylysines evoked urticarial responses non-specifically, but after succinylation were about as effective as dinitrophenyl-proteins in eliciting specific cutaneous reactions. An important factor influencing the effectiveness of bis-DNP-lysine in evoking specific wheal-and-erythema responses is antibody affinity for the dinitrophenyl-lysyl determinant.