α1-Antitrypsin is an effector of immunological stasis (original) (raw)

Nature volume 274, pages 589–590 (1978)Cite this article

Abstract

SEVERAL proteins in normal serum can serve as suppressors or enhancers of the immune response. Recently an _α_-globulin-rich fraction of Cohn fraction IV, designated IRA (immuneregulatory _α_-globulin), has been implicated in suppressing the in vitro antibody response of mouse spleen cells to sheep red cells without cytotoxicity1. Studies by Chase2 also indicate that _α_2-macroglobulin, one of the protease inhibitors present in normal serum, limits the human lymphocyte response to phytohaemagglutinin, and concanavalin A as measured by 3H-thymidine incorporation. A similar role for _α_1-antitrypsin (_α_1-AT), the major protease inhibitor in normal serum, can be proposed for involvement in the regulation of the immune response. Proteases have been found on both the surface and in the medium of cultured cells3; they have also been implicated in altering the electrophoretic mobility4, in vivo migration5 and blast transformation6 of lymphocytes. The physiological function of _α_1-AT in the serum is unknown. It is not clear why there is an increase of this protease inhibitor in certain physiological and pathological conditions7. Results presented here suggest that _α_1-AT has an immunoregulatory role, by suppressing the in vivo and in vitro immune response of mouse spleen cells against sheep red cells (SRBC).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology and Public Health, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, 48824
    PRINCE K. ARORA & HAROLD C. MILLER
  2. Department of Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, 48824
    LAWRENCE D. ARONSON

Authors

  1. PRINCE K. ARORA
  2. HAROLD C. MILLER
  3. LAWRENCE D. ARONSON

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ARORA, P., MILLER, H. & ARONSON, L. _α_1-Antitrypsin is an effector of immunological stasis.Nature 274, 589–590 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1038/274589a0

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