Stimulation of lymphocyte natural cytotoxicity by L-arginine.
In vitro L-arginine enhanced natural-killer (NK) and lymphokine-activated-killer (LAK) cell activity; this cytotoxicity was mediated by CD56+ cells. In vivo arginine supplements (30 g/day for 3 days) increased the number of circulating CD56+ cells by a median of 32% in eight volunteers (p less than 0.01); this increase was associated with a mean rise of 91% in NK cell activity (p = 0.003) and of 58% in LAK cell activity (p = 0.001) in thirteen volunteers. These findings have potentially important implications for the modulation of natural cytotoxicity in a wide range of disease states.
Park
K G
KG
Department of Surgery, University of Aberdeen, UK.
Hayes
P D
PD
Garlick
P J
PJ
Sewell
H
H
Eremin
O
O
D000328:Adult; D001120:Arginine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D015979:Killer Cells, Lymphokine-Activated / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000187:drug effects; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male
D001120:Arginine