CELL-MEDIATED IMMUNOLOGICAL RESPONSIVENESS IN MICE DECOMPLEMENTED WITH COBRA VENOM FACTOR

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 34  (6) , 1117-1123
Abstract
In vivo administration of cobra factor (CoF), the C3[3rd component of complement]-activating protein of cobra venom, had no suppressive effect on the in vitro response of lymphocytes to PHA [phytohemagglutinin], LPS [lipopolysaccharide] or allogeneic cells; nor did it affect the generation of cells cytotoxic to allogeneic target cells. HVG [host vs. graft] reactivity was inhibited by commercially available but not purified CoF, and the latter also failed to prolong skin allograft survival. In vivo C depletion probably does not interfere with T [thymus-derived] cell responses. Previous reports of prolonged survival of skin allografts and inhibition of cutaneous delayed hypersensitivity reactions following treatment with CoF may be due to impurities in the preparations used.