title: Effect of cimetidine on burst-promoting activity of normal T lymphocytes.
abstract: The effect of cimetidine, an inhibitor of suppressor T lymphocytes, on the burst-promoting activity (BPA) of normal T lymphocytes has been studied. Cimetidine has been shown to increase the BPA of normal T lymphocytes, both when added to the culture and when T lymphocytes were preincubated for 1 h with it. Cimetidine had no direct effect on the in vitro growth of burst-forming units (BFU-E). Our results show that CD8 suppressor T lymphocytes inhibit the in vitro growth of BFU-E in normal conditions, either directly or through inhibition of BPA of CD4 helper T lymphocytes. Cimetidine has proved to be a useful tool for investigating the hematological role of T-lymphocyte subsets in normal and pathological conditions.
authors.affiliation: Chair of Medical Therapy, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Morra
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Moccia
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Casti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bessone
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Ponassi
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002927:Cimetidine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003114:Colony-Forming Units Assay; D003470:Culture Media; D006801:Humans; D012016:Reference Values; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D002927:Cimetidine