Demonstration of the inhibitory effect of human alpha-fetoprotein on in vitro transformation of human lymphocytes

Journal Article · Sun Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1976 · Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.73.8.2857· OSTI ID:7156187

Yachnin, S

We have studied the effects of human alpha-fetoprotein (HAFP), isolated from the serum and ascitic fluid of a hepatoma-bearing patient, on the in vitro transformation of human peripheral blood lymphocytes by a variety of mitogenic stimuli. At a concentration of 2.5 mg/ml, HAFP inhibited the lymphocyte response to phytohemagglutinin, concanavalin A, and rabbit anti-human thymocyte serum, but failed to inhibit the response to pokeweed mitogen. HAFP was able to inhibit the one-way mixed lymphocyte culture at concentrations of 250--500 ..mu..g/ml, but failed to inhibit at 100 ..mu..g/ml. Exposure of lymphocytes to 2.2 mg/ml of HAFP for 18 hr did not result in significant lymphocytotoxicity, and such cells washed free of HAFP were fully capable of participating in the mixed lymphocyte culture. HAFP did not inhibit lymphocyte E-rosette formation. Fetal HAFP was more effective in inhibiting human lymphocyte responses than hepatoma HAFP. These experiments support the suggestion that HAFP plays an important immunoregulatory role during fetal development, possibly through the suppression of thymus-derived lymphocytes responses to antigenic stimuli; they also suggest that there are important differences in the biological properties of hepatoma and fetal HAFP.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Chicago
• OSTI ID: 7156187
• Journal Information: Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States), Journal Name: Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States) Vol. 73:8; ISSN PNASA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550300* -- Cytology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
AGGLUTININS
ANIMAL CELLS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BLOOD CELLS
BLOOD SERUM
BODY
BODY FLUIDS
CARBOHYDRATES
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
DISEASES
HEMAGGLUTININS
HEPATOMAS
IMMUNE REACTIONS
INHIBITION
LEUKOCYTES
LYMPHATIC SYSTEM
LYMPHOCYTES
MUCOPROTEINS
NEOPLASMS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PHYTOHEMAGGLUTININ
POLYSACCHARIDES
PROTEINS
SACCHARIDES
SOMATIC CELLS
THYMUS