In vitro activity of guinea pig transfer factor released into plasma

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Cellular immunology
• Hypersensitivity

Background:

• Delayed hypersensitivity involves complex immune mechanisms.
• Transfer factor is crucial for transferring cell-mediated immunity.
• Antilymphocytic serum (ALS) can modulate immune responses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of antilymphocytic serum on the release of transfer factor.
• To characterize the properties of the released transfer factor.
• To differentiate transfer factor activity from anaphylaxis antibodies in plasma.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of plasma fractions and dialysates from sensitized guinea pigs treated with ALS or control serum.
• Assays for lymphocyte transformation, passive cutaneous anaphylaxis, and macrophage migration inhibition.
• Electrophoretic and dialysis separation techniques to isolate active components.

Main Results:

• ALS treatment induced rapid release of transfer factor-like material into plasma.
• The transfer factor was dialyzable, migrated with alpha globulins/albumin, and had a 0.7 OD ratio.
• In vitro lymphocyte transformation was induced by the transfer factor in the presence of antigen.
• Passive cutaneous anaphylaxis antibodies were found in separate plasma fractions.

Conclusions:

• Antilymphocytic serum facilitates the release of a dialyzable transfer factor with specific characteristics.
• The identified transfer factor induces in vitro lymphocyte transformation.
• Transfer factor activity is separable from passive cutaneous anaphylaxis antibodies in plasma.