[Effect on quinoline derivatives, nucleotides, D-penicillamine,cytostatic and antiphogistic drugs on the rheumatoid factors other immune antibodies].

Cytostatics have no effect on antigen-antibody reactions in vitro. Immunosuppression by cytostatics is mainly based on the inhibition of immunocytes. Prednisolone inhibits RA-factors in the Waaler-Rose-test; the mechanism of this effect is not understood at the present time. Acetylsalicylic acid has no influence on the antigen-antibody reactions investigated. Nucleotides inhibit only ANA; the effect is probably based on a cross reaction with ANA. D-enicillamine inhibits RA-factors and other IgM-antibodies by splitting SS-bonds in macromolecules of immunoglobulins. Quinoline derivatives inhibit RA-factors, ANA, cold agglutinins and IgG-isoantibodies and autoantibodies to erythrocytes. Contrary to nucleotides, prednisolone and d-penicillamine, which also inhibit antigen-antibody reactions, chloroquine is splitting immune complexes; after the aplitting of the complexes the reactivity of antigens and antibodies is not impaired. The mechanism of action of chloroquine might be connected with physical and chemical processes of the antigen-antibody reaction. The reduction of the surface charge of human red cells is not related to the inhibition of antigen-antibody reactions by the substances investigated.