Human α-fetoprotein (AFP) causes a selective down regulation of monocyte MHC class II molecules without altering other induced or noninduced monocyte markers or functions in monocytoid cell lines

Endocrine Factors Modulating Immune Responses in Pregnancy

“…Besides an effect of steroid hormones and gonadotropins on monocytes and macrophages, AFP is suggested to have an influence on both innate immune cell types. It has been demonstrated that AFP significantly suppresses the production of TNFα and IL-1β and induces a rapid down-regulation of surface MHC class II expression in a stimulated human monocyte cell line (29, 31). Moreover, Lu and colleagues showed that AFP inhibits the cell surface expression of Ia antigens on macrophages but does not affect macrophage viability (50).…”

Immunomodulation of EAE by alpha-fetoprotein involves elevation of immune cell apoptosis markers and the transcription factor FoxP3

“…Autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), myasthenia gravis (MG), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and thyroiditis were ameliorated during the second half of pregnancy, a period in which maternal AFP serum concentrations peak [1][2][3][4][5]. It was further documented by us and others that AFP can regulate immune cell functions [5][6][7][8][9][10][11]. AFP exerted a broad immunomodulating effect, affecting antigen presentation together with T and B cell activity.…”

Stimulation of tumor-cell growth by alpha-fetoprotein

“…The mitogenic response to protein A expressing Staphylococcus aureus bacteria (strain Cowan I), a known human B-lymphocyte mitogen, was even enhanced by AFP (Murgita et al, 1978). AFP could cause selective and rapid down-regulation of monocyte MHC-class-II molecules (Laan-Putsep et al, 1991). It also down-regulated tumor-necrosisfactor-␣ and interleukin-1-␤ production via a PGE2-dependent mechanism in human monocytic cells (Wang and Alpert, 1995).…”