Effect of β-3-Thienylalanine on Antibody Synthesis IV. Suppression of the Immune Response in Mice

Abstract

The analogue of phenylalanine, β-3-thienylalanine (β-3-TA), inhibits the primary and secondary immune responses to sheep red blood cells in CBA mice fed with phenylalanine-free diet. The optimal dose of β-3-TA needed to obtain maximum immunosuppression with minimal toxicity is 250 mg per kg per day. The drug is maximally effective when administered for 7 days, beginning 2 days prior to primary immunization. With these experimental conditions, the antibody titers and the numbers of direct and indirect plaque-forming cells are greatly reduced during the primary and the secondary immune response.