The influence of OKT8F treatment on allograft survival in rhesus monkeys.

The immunosuppressive effect of a monoclonal antibody specific for the cytotoxic/suppressor T cells (CD8) was investigated in rhesus monkeys. This antibody (OKT8F) removed the CD8-positive T cells from the circulation and prolonged skin allograft survival. Since most patients awaiting a kidney allograft are transfused prior to transplantation, the immunosuppressive potency of OKT8F was subsequently investigated in transfused recipients. No significant prolongation of the mean survival time was observed when OKT8F was given prophylactically. However, no early rejections were observed, while 30% of the control animals rejected their kidneys within 2 weeks. This might indicate that OKT8F prevents early rejection of a kidney allograft in transfused recipients.