Immunosuppression and Infection

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Abstract
In 1958 Schwartz et al.1 demonstrated that a purine antimetabolite, 6-mercaptopurine, selectively suppressed the primary antibody response of the rabbit to a protein antigen. A state resembling acquired immunologic tolerance was induced. The rabbit could only respond to antigens other than those injected at the time of 6-mercaptopurine administration. These findings were confirmed in other species, including man,2 and were extended by the demonstration that transplantation immunity could also be suppressed. The use of certain purine analogues (6-mercaptopurine, 6-thioguanine or azathioprine) or methotrexate with or without prednisone or actinomycin C in clinical medicine soon came to be known as "immunosuppressive . . .