In vivo and in vitro Effect of Anti-lymphocytic IgG on Sensitized Spleen Cells

Abstract

IT has been shown that treatment of a number of animals with species specific anti-lymphocytic antibody suppresses their primary immune response to a variety of antigens¹. Cell transfer experiments have also shown that “non-sensitized” lymphoid tissue from mice treated with anti-lymphocytic antibody can exhibit a reduced immunological potential when transferred to suitably prepared recipients^2–5. Furthermore, suppression of suspensions of sensitized mouse and rabbit lymphoid cells can also be achieved by incubating them in vitro with anti-lymphocytic antibody before transferring them to test recipients^6,7. In order to confirm and extend these previous cell transfer results, preliminary experiments have been undertaken to determine the effect of anti-rat lymphocyte antibody treatment (in vivo and in vitro) on the humoral antibody producing potential of sensitized rat spleen cells on subsequent transfer to irradiated recipients.