The effects of mouse alpha-fetoprotein on T-cell-dependent and T-cell-independent immune responses in vitro.
Mouse alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) suppressed the specific antibody response to the T-cell-dependent antigen sheep erythrocytes (SRBC) and the phytohemagglutinin- and concanavalin-A-stimulated DNA synthesis of purified T lymphocytes but failed to inhibit the T-cell-independent antibody response to dinitrophenyl-substituted Ficoll (DNP-Ficoll) and the lipopolysaccharide-stimulated polyclonal B-cell antibody synthesis. Mouse amniotic fluid (MAF) suppressed antibody responses to both T-cell-dependent and T-cell-independent antigens; however, the effects could be differentiated since dialysis of the MAF removed most of the suppressive effect on the DNP-Ficoll response but did not diminish the inhibitory action on the anti-SRBC response. The results indicate that AFP suppresses certain T-lymphocyte functions in vitro and does not act by directly inhibiting B-cell functions.
D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D005362:Ficoll / Q000494:pharmacology; D037102:Lectins / Q000494:pharmacology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D011247:Pregnancy; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000494:pharmacology*
D037102:Lectins; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D003208:Concanavalin A; D005362:Ficoll; D004247:DNA