Effects of α-Fetoprotein on Murine Immune Responses

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Abstract
In vitro and in vivo experiments failed to identify a consistent “immunosuppressive” or “immunoregulatory” role for α-fetoprotein (AFP) in the rat. Both normal and AFP-rich sera inhibited Con A, PHA, and MLR proliferation responses of lymphocyte cultures in vitro equally well, in spite of up to 100,000-fold differences in AFP concentration. AFP-rich sera also had no effect on the antibody response of the rat in vivo. Purified AFP from amniotic fluid inhibited the PHA response at concentrations of 100 µg/ml. Purified albumin was also inhibitory, but at 1 log higher concentration. Purified AFP from tumor sera was not inhibitory at 100 µg/ml for Con A, PHA, or MLR reactions and only inhibited PHA stimulation at medium concentrations greater than 1000 µg/ml. The role of AFP as an immunosuppressive agent, particularly in reference to survival of mammalian fetuses, should be reconsidered.

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