Guinea pig transfer factor-like activity detected in vitro.

"Transfer factor" was prepared by Sephadex G-25 chromatography of lymph node cell lysates from guinea pigs immunized with ovalbumin or bovine gamma globulin. Treatment of nonimmune peritoneal exudate cells with the transfer factor and specific antigen leads to inhibition of migration of the cells, whereas cells treated with the transfer factor alone or specific antigen alone are not inhibited from migrating. An average of 24-28% inhibition is observed in the presence of transfer factor and specific antigen, but only 5-15% inhibition in the presence of transfer factor and nonspecific antigen. The guinea pig transfer factor we have tested in vitro has some physical characteristics in common with human transfer factor.