ATG-Fresenius inhibits blood circulating cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner: an experimental study.

Introduction: Antithymocyte globulin (ATG)-Fresenius (Neovii-Biotech, Graefelfing, Germany), a highly purified rabbit polyclonal antihuman T-lymphocyte immunoglobulin resulting from immunization of rabbits with the Jurkat T-lymphoblast cell line, is currently used for the prevention of acute rejection in patients receiving solid organ transplants. Our aim was to investigate the in vitro activity of ATG-Fresenius regarding the proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), an important mechanism of rejection after solid organ transplantation.

Methods: PBMCs were isolated from 6 healthy donors.

Anti-tumor effects of anti-T-cell globulin.

In vivo T-cell depletion using anti-T-cell antibodies is a standard procedure during allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Clinical data demonstrate that in vivo T-cell depletion with the anti-CD52 monoclonal antibody Alemtuzumab is associated with increased relapse rates of hematologic malignancies after allo-HSCT, underlining the importance of donor T cells for graft versus tumor activity. In contrast, recent results suggest that in vivo T-cell depletion with rabbit anti-T-cell globulin (ATG) Fresenius is not associated with tumor relapse after allo-HSCT, raising the possibility that ATG mediates antitumor effects.

In vitro effects of ATG-Fresenius on immune cell adhesion.

Introduction: ATG-Fresenius, a purified rabbit polyclonal anti-human T-lymphocyte immunoglobulin is used for induction immunosuppression as well as prevention and treatment of acute rejection episodes among patients receiving solid organ transplants. The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro activity of ATG-Fresenius upon immune cell adhesion, which may explain its activity to mitigate ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Materials And Methods: Human vascular endothelial cells (HUVEC) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from umbilical vein or peripheral blood were incubated 20 to 24 hours before analysis.

Transient lymphocyte decrease due to adhesion and migration following catumaxomab (anti-EpCAM x anti-CD3) treatment in vivo.

Introduction: In patients, a transient decrease in peripheral blood lymphocyte counts was observed following intraperitoneal administration of the trifunctional monoclonal antibody catumaxomab (anti-human EpCAM x anti-human CD3). The aim of this study was to clarify the observed effect in a preclinical mouse model and to analyse the related mechanism of action in vitro.

Materials And Methods: A related antibody, BiLu (antihuman EpCAM x anti-mouse CD3), was administered to mice and blood leukocytes were analysed.