title: Effect of antithymocyte globulin on histocompatibility antigen recognition in man.
abstract: Nonmajor histocompatibility complex (non-MHC) antigens are important targets of graft rejection and graft-versus-host disease in clinical transplantation. Little is known regarding immunity to non-MHC antigens. To study this problem we evaluated the effect of antihuman thymocyte globulin (ATG) on reactivity in autologous and allogeneic mixed lymphocyte cultures and activity in a model of immunity to non-MHC antigens, the response to trinitrophenyl (TNP)-modified autologous cells. Primary proliferative responses to autologous B lymphocytes, allogeneic cells, and TNP-modified autologous cells were all inhibited by ATG treatment. Secondary proliferative responses and cytotoxicity to TNP-modified autologous cells were also inhibited as was cross-reactive cytotoxicity to TNP-modified allogeneic cells. These data indicate that both MHC-restricted and MHC-nonrestricted immune responses to modified self-antigens and possibly to non-MHC antigens are sensitive to ATG treatment. ATG may be useful in clinical situations where the objective of immunosuppression is to inhibit immunity to non-MHC antigens such as after HLA-matched kidney grafting or bone marrow transplantation.
mesh_terms: D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000939:Epitopes; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D008433:Mathematics; D012397:Rosette Formation; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum; D000939:Epitopes; D006680:HLA Antigens