MACROPHAGE MODIFYING FACTOR SECRETED BY THE TETRATHYRIDIA OF MESOCESTOIDES-CORTI (CESTODA) - MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODY TO THE MODIFYING FACTOR ANTAGONIZES ITS IMMUNOLOGICAL ACTIVITY

Immunomodulation of macrophage activity by in vitro secretions of Meso cestoides corti has been previously demonstrated. The modifying activi ty secreted by M. corti had the effect of reducing the normal accessor y function of macrophages in a Con-A-activated lymphocyte proliferatio n assay. This paper describes the purification of the modifying activi ty by FPLC techniques and the generation of a monoclonal antibody (MoA b) to this molecule in mice. The MoAb bound immunomodulatory FPLC frac tions of M. corti in an ELISA. When MoAb was applied in conjunction wi th immunomodulatory parasite secretions to macrophages in vivo or in v itro, the modifying effect of the secretions was abolished. This profo und effect of the MoAb should help to elucidate the mechanisms by whic h metacestode parasites avoid host immune responses and may enable the rapeutic intervention.