THE EFFECT OF CYCLOSPORIN-A ON THE PRIMARY IMMUNE-RESPONSE TO ALLOGENEIC RED-CELLS IN RABBITS

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 45  (1) , 163-167
Abstract
Cyclosporin A (CSA) was used in an attempt to suppress the primary immune response of HgA(A)-negative rabbits to A-positive red cells. The immune response was assessed by measuring the survival of a small i.v. dose of 51Cr-labeled A-positive cells and by testing the serum of the immunized rabbits for anti-A. In 1 experiment, 8 A-negative rabbits were given a 1st i.v. injection of A-positive red cells, and CSA (25 mg/kg per day) in olive oil was given by mouth for 17-34 days. There was no evidence of impaired alloimmunization compared with the responses in control animals treated with olive oil alone. In 2nd experiment, 8 A-negative rabbits were given a 1st injection of A-positive red cells mixed with Freund''s complete adjuvant i.m. and CSA (25 mg/kg per day) in miglyol was given by i.m. injection for 10 days. Six of these rabbits were rendered unresponsive and the remaining 2, who showed impaired survival of the monitoring red cells, produced only low anti-A titers. Seven of 8 controls given i.m. miglyol without CSA responded with good anti-A production. Rabbits that were unresponsive to A-positive red cells responded normally to sheep red blood cells 15 wk after CSA treatment. Higher serum levels of CSA were found following i.m. administration of the drug but treatment by this route was associated with severe toxicity in some rabbits.