“May all be happy, may all be healed, may all be at peace and may no one ever suffer."
The mechanism of action by which polyclonal antilymphocyte preparations suppress immune responses is not fully understood. Possible mechanisms by which Anti-Thymocyte Globulin may induce immunosuppression in vivo include: T-cell clearance from the circulation and modulation of T-cell activation, homing, and cytotoxic activities. Anti-Thymocyte Globulin includes antibodies against T-cell markers such as CD2, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD11a, CD18, CD25, CD44, CD45, HLA-DR, HLA Class I heavy chains, and ß2 micro-globulin. In vitro, Anti-Thymocyte Globulin (concentrations >0.1 mg/mL) mediates T-cell suppressive effects via inhibition of proliferative responses to several mitogens. In patients, T-cell depletion is usually observed within a day after initiating Anti-Thymocyte Globulin therapy. Anti-Thymocyte Globulin has not been shown to be effective for treating antibody-mediated (humoral) rejections.