Effect of bilirubin on an in vitro correlate of cell-mediated immunity--the migration inhibition test.

The effect of bilirubin on one of the basic cell-mediated immunity reactions, i.e. the migration inhibition test was assessed. For this purpose the model of tuberculin hypersensitivity in rabbits was employed and the effect of bilirubin was studied on the migration inhibition test and its two main phases; the process of MIF production and the effect of already preformed MIF on the effector system. It was found that the neutralizing effect of bilirubin on the migration inhibition (caused by specific antigen) was due to the effect of bilirubin on the process of MIF production.