SERUM-DERIVED IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE SUBSTANCES

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Abstract
Two .alpha.-globulin fractions which had in vivo and in vitro immunosuppressive activity were prepared from human serum. The larger fraction eluted from a molecular sieving gel in the albumin fraction and was heat labile; the smaller one was present in the eluate fraction containing materials of 8000-25,000 daltons and was heat stable. The smaller of the 2 fractions is probably the immunoregulatory .alpha.-globulin described previously. The comparative activities of various starting materials and of partially purified derivatives in several systems (in vivo and in vitro) were examined. The possibility that these substances are lymphocytic chalones is considered.