Modulators of the immune system.

摘要

This invention relates to modulators of the human immune system. A modulator as herein defined is any substance that effects direct or indirct response of an animal or human body, portion thereof or matter taken therefrom, to antigens to which said body has been previously exposed, where such response is specifically attributable to the function of the immunity system of said animal or human. Substances having general effects which may include effects on the immune response are therefore not subsumed within the term <>, as herein defined. These modulators described herein manifest their activity in a delayed hypersensitivity skin reaction test, and therefore appear to exert their primary effect on the cell-mediated immunity system. It will be understood, however, that the described modulators have broad effects on the entire immunity system, and may affect the humoral immunity system. In the present invention, modulators of the human immune system have been isolated from dialysates of leukocyte extracts. Six such modulators have amplifier activity and two have suppressor activity. Amplifiers are considered useful in the treatment of anergic conditions and conditions of immune hyposensitivity, both local and systemic, while suppressors are considered useful for the preparation and treatment of local hypersensitivity conditions, such as poison ivy. Those amplifiers are designated amplifiers 1-6. The suppressors are identified as the S-suppressor and the L-suppressor.