rATG is advantageous in preventing acute rejection among transplant recipients at high risk, especially in HLA-presensitized patients. rATG has an immune-stimulating role beyond T-cell depletion. rATG-induced lymphocyte apoptosis is partially caspase-3-dependent but Fas/FasLindependent. Among the most widely used lymphocyte-depleting preparation in SOT, rATG has been recommended as the first choice for induction therapy in recipients at high immunologic risk. At Tongji Hospital and Wuhan Center, blood samples from renal transplant recipients (n = 8) and healthy donors (n = 20) were collected and all the human subjects were adults. Patients received induction therapy consisting of rATG (Thymoglobulin) or anti-CD25 antibody (Basiliximab). P-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. rATG treatment leads to lymphocyte activation and proliferation in the absence of complement.