Inactivation of HL-A antigens in vitro by action of antibiotics.

The effect of antibiotics on lymphocyte HL-A antigens in vitro is of variable character. All antibiotics under examination suppressed the absorption capacity of HL-A antigens after 2 hr of lymphocyte treatment at 37 degrees C. Ceporin and Kanamytrex inhibited even the cytotoxic reactivity of Hl-A antigens after 15-30 min of lymphocyte treatment. Chloramphenicol, aureomycin, streptomycin and oleandomycin, on the contrary, increased the specific cytotoxic reactivity of HL-A antigens after 15-30 min, after 1 hr they were ineffective for HL-A antigens, and after two or more hours they produced polyreactivity. Penicillin and erythromycin produced polyreactivity after only 15-30 min. The results show that for the follow-up of the drug effect on HL-A antigens the absorption test rather than the cytotoxicity test is of importance. The suppressed absorption capacity of HL-A antigens caused by the action of antibiotics proves their inactivation effect on the lymphocytes. The possibility of an analogous effect of antibiotics on lymphocyte HL-A antigens, even after administration to patients, is discussed.