Effect of sulphasalazine on antibody response to oral antigen.
Cholera toxin was orally administered to mice concurrently receiving sulphasalazine (SASP) dissolved in L-lysine, or a control substance (L-lysine alone). Circulating antibodies to cholera toxin of IgM, IgG and IgA class were determined by direct ELISA at day 7, 14, 21 and 28. Although both groups made a significant antibody response to the antigen, mice receiving SASP tended to produce lower levels. These were significant for IgA on day 21 (P = 0.013), and for days 7-28 (P = 0.009), and 14-28 (P = 0.007). Overall, considering all antibody classes together from day 7 to 28, there was a significant effect in the SASP treated group (P = < 0.04). It appears that SASP exerts a mild immunomodulatory effect on the mucosal immune system. Further work is obviously required to substantiate these findings. The effect on the gut mucosal immune system of a drug known to ameliorate rheumatoid arthritis may offer an insight into the aetiopathogenesis of this disease.
Department of Microbiology, Leicester.
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Sheldon
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Pell
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McBurney
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D000941:Antigens / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D002772:Cholera Toxin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008954:Models, Biological; D012460:Sulfasalazine / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000906:Antibodies; D000941:Antigens; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D012460:Sulfasalazine; D002772:Cholera Toxin