The effect of purified alpha 1 antitrypsin on PWM driven IgG synthesis.

: As part of a study investigating the mechanisms for the association of alpha 1 antitrypsin (alpha 1 AT) deficiency with immune disorders, the effect of purified alpha 1 AT on PWM driven IgG synthesis of peripheral blood lymphocytes was investigated. This demonstrated that alpha 1 AT in physiological doses enhanced IgG synthesis in stimulated but not resting cells. This effect is probably due to the known inhibition by alpha 1 AT of macrophage function. Increasing number of macrophages are known to inhibit IgG synthesis in the PWM system suggesting that this apparently paradoxical enhancement by alpha 1 AT is probably due to inhibition of these cells.