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By means of the macrophage electrophoretic mobility (MEM) test the supposed immunosuppressive activity of the pregnancy-associated a2-glycoprotein (pregnancy zone protein) could be demonstrated significantly. Pregnancy sera and sera of nonpregnant women with hormonal contraception containing this pregnancy protein showed an immunosuppressive activity, too. On the contrary, serum of male donors with the blood group AB and human serum albumin had no inhibitory effects. The results suggest that the pregnancy-associated a2-glycoprotein rather influences the afferent limb of the immune response and does not interfere with the activity of the mediator (migration inhibiting factor).

Rabbits were sensitized intracutaneously with Candida albicans total antigen by a series of booster injections. The electrophoretic migration time of lymph node lymphocytes was related to the time after injection. Two lymphocyte sub-populations could be distinguished. The proportion of each, changed during the course of the immune response. Characteristic changes also took place after in vitro incubation with Candidin. The results have been compared with agglutination titers and are discussed in relation to bursa and thymus-derived cells. The electrophoretic method may be valuable for the diagnosis of candidiasis.