The relation between the physico-chemical properties and immunosuppressive effects of an homologous series of sulphonic acid esters

摘要

The effects of various members of the homologous series CH3SO2O-(CH2)nOSO2CH3 on the response of the mouse to sheep red cells were measured by the Jerne technique. The immunosuppressive effect depended on the interval between injection of the agent and that of the antigen. The requisite interval for producing the maximum immunosuppressive effect depended on the value of n, being greatest when n = 4 (busulphan) and falling as n rose or fell on either side of this value.Consideration of the relation between n and various chemical and physical properties of these agents showed that the changes in immunological effect are correlated with changes in the lipid—water partition coefficient.