Production and characterization of antisera against guinea pig macrophage activating factor.

Guinea pig lymph node cells stimulated with concanavalin A (Con-A) were used as a source of lymphokines. Purifications by molecular sizing columns yielded sufficient quantities of macrophage activating factor (MAF)-active fractions to allow immunization of rabbits. An antiserum was produced which is capable of specifically inhibiting MAF activity, as well as blocking the activity of macrophage migration inhibiting factor (MIF), but not of skin reactive factor. Antisera raised against control supernatants derived from lymph node cells not stimulated with Con-A, failed to specifically inhibit any of these lymphokines. Additionally, anti-MAF but not anti-control antibodies suppressed completely contact sensitivity to dinitrochlorobenzene.