Human <i>in vivo</i> antigenic modulation induced by the anti‐T cell OKT3 monoclonal antibody

Abstract

The anti-pan T cell monoclonal antibody OKT3 was administered daily for 2 weeks in four human renal allograft recipients. The antibody induced a dramatic and immediate depletion of peripheral T cells followed by an in vivo antigenic modulation of the OKT3-defined membrane antigen: after three injections, OKT3-treated patients showed a limited but significant number of OKT3- cells of T cell nature (as defined by OKT4 and OKT8) which recovered the OKT3 receptor after an overnight in vitro incubation in the absence of the monoclonal antibody.