SUPPRESSION OF MOUSE SKIN ALLOGRAFT-REJECTION BY PROTEIN-A YERSINIAE V-ANTIGEN FUSION PEPTIDE

V antigen is an established virulence factor of Yersinia pestis, the c ausative agent of bubonic plague. Injection of homogenous staphylococc al protein A-V antigen fusion peptide into mice was previously found t o suppress tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interferon-gamma necessary for generation of protective granulomas. Here, we show that BALB/c mic e receiving daily intraperitoneal injections of 100 mu g of control pr otein A initiated rejection of C57BL/6 mouse tail skin grafts after 6. 2+/-1.1 days. This time doubled to 12.2+/-1.4 days upon similar admini stration of protein A-V antigen fusion peptide (P<0.001); times of tot al allograft retention remained constant. This finding indicates that V antigen can postpone inflammation known to be associated with recogn ition and destruction of foreign tissue by T lymphocytes.