[Modification of the immune response by a hepatic ferroglobulin: L alpha2-HF]

Alpha2-HF, foetal and tumorous isoferritin, the level of which is high in cancerous patients and in amniotic fluid during pregnancy, has an immunosuppressif effect on normal lymphocytic response. Its activity has been tested on blastic transformation induced by PHA, tuberculin, candidin and allgenic lymphocytes. The inhibition effect is proportional to the added quantity of alpha2-HF globulin. The antibody synthesis is depressed by alpha2-HF as demonstrated in vivo and in vitro. Iron is no responsible for the suppressif effect: the efficiency is identical with the native protein or the apo-protein. Crystallised ferritin, without sugar in its molecule on the contrary of alpha2-HF which is a glycoferroprotein, has no suppressif effect.