title: Immunoenhancing effects of alprazolam, a benzodiazepine receptor agonist.
abstract: The effects of alprazolam (ALP), a triazolobenzodiazepine with high affinity for "central" benzodiazepine receptors, were examined on several parameters of immune function in mice. NK, MLR, and mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation were all significantly increased 2 hr after administration of low doses (0.02-1.0 mg/kg) of ALP. Twenty four hr later, similar but less robust immunoenhancing effects were observed. These measures of immune functions were not affected by higher doses of ALP (5-10 mg/kg). The immunoenhancing effects of ALP did not appear related to serum corticosterone levels. These and other findings demonstrate that the GABA/benzodiazepine receptor chloride channel complex can bidirectionally modulate immune function.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Laboratory of Neuroscience, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fride
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Skolnick
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Arora
mesh_terms: D000525:Alprazolam / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007109:Immunity / Q000187:drug effects*; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000187:drug effects*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D000525:Alprazolam