title: Pidotimod stimulates natural killer cell activity and inhibits thymocyte cell death.
abstract: Experiments were performed to analyze the possible effect of the immunomodulating agent Pidotimod (3-L-pyroglutamyl-L-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid) on mouse Natural Killer (NK) cell activity and glucocorticoid hormone(GCH)-induced thymocyte apoptosis. The results indicate that in vivo treatment with Pidotimod (200 mg/Kg ip for 5 days) causes a significant increase in NK activity and in vitro treatment produces a significant reduction of dexamethasone-induced thymocyte apoptosis. This inhibition appears to be dose-dependent and is also evident against TPA or Ca(++)ionophore-induced apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacology, Perugia University Medical School, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Migliorati
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: D'Adamio
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Coppi
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nicoletti
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Riccardi
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology; D016922:Cellular Senescence / Q000187:drug effects; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D011761:Pyrrolidonecarboxylic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D013154:Spleen; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053778:Thiazolidines
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D013844:Thiazoles; D053778:Thiazolidines; C064893:pidotimod; D002118:Calcium; D011761:Pyrrolidonecarboxylic Acid