Journal of Experimental Medicine, Vol 141, 242-256, Copyright © 1975 by Rockefeller University Press
Fetuin, an inhibitor of lymphocyte transformation. The interaction of fetuin with phytomitogens and a possible role for fetuin in fetal development
S Yachnin
Fetuin, the bovine alpha-fetoprotein, contains glycopeptide sequences
similar to those found on red cells. As a result, it is capable of strong
physical interaction with the phytohemagglutinin isomitogens (H- PHAP)
which possess two or more R (red cell binding) subunits as part of their
tetrameric structures. Fetuin shows little or no interaction with L-PHAP, a
phytohemagglutinin made up of four L subunits which also lack red cell
affinity. Despite these differences fetuin is able to inhibit both H- and
L-PHAP-induced lymphocyte transformation and is also capable of inhibiting
the mitogenic effects of pokeweed mitogen, concanavalin A, antithymocyte
antiserum, and the one-way mixed lymphocyte culture. In the case of L-PHAP,
the inhibitory effect of fetuin is proportional to the intensity of the
mitogenic stimulus. The inhibitory effects of fetuin upon lymphocyte
transformation may result from perturbation or "blindfolding" of the cell
membrane in a manner analogous to other immunosuppressive serum
alpha-globulins. Alpha- Fetoproteins may play an immunoregulatory role
during fetal development.
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