Abstract
CHEMICAL suppression of immunological responsiveness has been achieved in recent years by several classes of compounds. In particular, the alkalating agents1, the antipurines2 and the folic acid antagonists3 have been effective chemicals. However, since none of these drugs has offered complete suppression under conditions of clinical trial, the discovery of new classes of chemicals which inhibit immune reactions remains an important objective. The double indole-indoline alkaloids4 ‘Vincristine’ (vincristine sulphate) and ‘Vinblastine’ (vincaleukoblastine sulphate) were isolated from the common periwinkle plant Vinca rosea by two groups of investigators working independently5,6. Since these compounds have been effective growth inhibitors of a variety of lymphoid neoplasms7–9, it appeared worth while to investigate their effects on immune responses. This communication reports inhibition of antibody formation and delayed hypersensitivity to bovine serum albumin in rats following administration of the two drugs.
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AISENBERG, A. Suppression of Immune Response by ‘Vincristine’ and ‘Vinblastine’. Nature 200, 484 (1963). https://doi.org/10.1038/200484a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/200484a0
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