November 3, 1969

Dr. Joshua Lederberg
Stanford University

Dear Dr. Lederberg,

In your column aprearing in today's Stanford Daily you make
reference to thaliodomide as a mutagenic chemical. I recall
seeing a reference to thaliodomide in an article on heart trans-
plants, though unfortunately I can't recall the source. The
comment was made in this article that thaliodomide did not
ceuse the deformities attributed to it. Rather, it suppressed 4
the natural rejection mechanisms which in its absence would have
caused a spontaneous abortion of the deformed fetus. This
rejection suppressant quality, according to this article, is
currently being used to good advantage in heart transplant cases.

Being completely a layman in the matter, I have no idea
whether this is the case in fact. The author of the article,
which probably appeared in a popular magazine, may easily have
been misinformed. At any rate, I'm sure that you'll be interested
in checking into the matter for your own information and would
appreciste hearing your resolution of the matter.

oo
Penns Dee “Re Y Ayer oma

Department of Anthropology
Stanford

 

To be precise, I did not sag that thalidomide was mutagenic, for it

is not known to cause changes in DNA (genes), but rather on development.
I am sure that thalidomide is not widely used as an immunosuppressant, but
some similar drugs (mercaptopurine) are also teratogenic. The speculation *

you mention cannot be contradicted, but is not very appealing.

Without a more explicit text, it is hard for me to comment in more

detail.
\

NOV 11 1969