Lymphocyte-transforming activity of homologous and heterologous antisera to rabbit leucocytes

Abstract

Two out of nine rabbits receiving a course of immunization with homologous leucocytes produced antisera which caused blast formation and stimulated DNA synthesis of donor lymphocytes in vitro. Of the seven rabbits which failed to produce active antisera three had received only a short immunization course. The active antisera `transformed' lymphocytes from some rabbits but not those of others. This stimulatory effect was not related to the red cell types or the γ-globulin allotypes of the rabbits.

Heterologous antisera raised to rabbit leucocytes in rats and guinea-pigs were cytotoxic to rabbit leucocytes in vitro and also caused leucoagglutination but never stimulated DNA synthesis and blast formation.