Choriogonadotropin and immunity: a reevaluation.
The immunosuppressive activity of hCG preparations has been analyzed by a variety of laboratories using different techniques over the years. Generally, the immunosuppressive effects of hCG preparations in vitro are attributable to contaminants, not the hCG molecule. In contrast, recent data clearly demonstrate the immunosuppressive activity of highly purified hCG and recombinant hCG preparations in a murine delayed-type hypersensitivity model in vivo. The fact that purified hCG manifests no immunosuppressive activity in castrate mice suggests that the hCG molecule induces the immunosuppression in vivo indirectly through the gonad.
D000818:Animals; D002369:Castration; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006824:Hybridization, Genetic; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000188:drug therapy; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects*
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents