Cell-mediated immune suppression due to alfathesin in short-term anaesthesia.

The immunosuppressive effects on cell-mediated immunity of alfathesin, when used as the sole agent for short-term anaesthesia, were investigated in ten women undergoing pregnancy termination. Cell-mediated immunity was evaluated by E rosette formation in peripheral blood (reflecting the percentage of T lymphocytes) and by proliferative responses to the mitogens concanavalin A and phyto-haemagglutinin in various concentrations. Measurements were made before alfathesin was administered, and again after 60 minutes, two days and seven days. Significant reductions in the percentage of E rosettes in peripheral blood and in mitogenic responses to concanavalin A were observed 60 minutes after administration of alfathesin. A model is proposed in which alfathesin binds to lymphocytic membrane receptors, thus affecting in vitro cell-mediated immune reactions.