Freeze-dried thymocytes as antigen source for production of antithymocyte sera
Wojtulewicz-Kurkus, J.; Wasik, M.; Skopińska, E.; Orlowski, T.
Acta Medica Polona 18(3): 261-271
1977
ISSN/ISBN: 0001-608X PMID: 303859 Document Number: 115906
Freeze-dried thymocytes have similar immunizing properties to those of fresh cells, i.e., they may be used for production of antithymocyte sera. The dose of fresh or freeze-dried cells sufficient to obtain rabbit antisera which significantly prolong skin allograft survival time was 107 cells/injection. Using the freeze-dried antigen, the most potent antisera were obtained when the 1st immunizing dose emulsified in a complete Freund's adjuvant was administered and the animal was boosted i.v. 3 wk thereafter. All antisera were less toxic; antisera were obtained when the 1st injection of fresh cells was followed by a booster with a freeze-dried material. The i.p. immunization was found ineffective. No correlation was detected between results of leukoagglutination test, cytotoxic test, lymphopenic activity of antisera and their ability to prolong skin graft survival time.