title: Effect of middle molecules on immunological functions.
abstract: The cell-mediated immunodeficiency secondary to renal failure is well established and is largely dependent on toxic or inhibitory serum factors. Our approach was to investigate the effect of so-called middle molecules (MM) on in vitro and in vivo immunological functions. A crude fraction of MM isolated from the serum or urines of uremic patients by chromatography on Sephadex G-25 fine was shown to markedly inhibit the lymphocyte proliferation induced in vitro by various phytomitogens or by allogeneic cells. A marked depression of the graft-versus-host reaction was demonstrated in vivo. When rats were continuously infused with MM, a significant delay of skin allograft rejection was obtained. From these results it is clear that the MM fraction contains a potent inhibitor of several T lymphocyte functions.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006087:Graft vs Host Reaction / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D007153:Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / Q000209:etiology*; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D014118:Toxins, Biological / Q000276:immunology* / Q000652:urine; D014511:Uremia / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D014118:Toxins, Biological; C026865:uremia middle molecule toxins