The Effects of ALG on the Murine Immune Response to Sheep Erythrocytes.

Antilymphocyte globulin (ALG) and to a lesser extent normal rabbit globulin (NRG), when given to mice prior to immunization with sheepRBC suppress both the γM and γG_2a responses. Globulin injected after the antigen suppresses the γG_2a response, augments the γG₁ response and has little effect on the γM response. These effects are also observed in mice partially paralysed to rabbit γ globulin In another system—the response to hapten-protein conjugates precursors of antibody producing cells were found to be more resistant to ALS treatment in vivo than were helper celIs. It is concluded that the suppressive effects of ALG treatment are largely due to the direct action of ALG on helper cells (Tcells). The mechanism of the adjuvant-like effect is nuclear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]