title: Effect of ivermectin on the immune response in mice.
abstract: To assess the effect of ivermectin on immune function (antibody production), male CD-1 mice were inoculated with an antigen the day after SC administration of ivermectin (0.2 mg/kg of body weight or 20 mg/kg). Responses were evaluated 5 days after inoculation of the antigen. Antibody production against sheep RBC, a T lymphocyte-, macrophage-dependent response, was enhanced by ivermectin treatment (P = 0.00049). In contrast, antibody production against dinitrophenyl-Ficoll, a T lymphocyte-independent, macrophage-dependent response, was not altered by ivermectin treatment. Results indicate that the immunostimulatory properties of ivermectin are associated with altered function of T lymphocytes, in particular, T-helper lymphocytes. The immunomodulating effects of ivermectin may provide an alternative approach for treatment of disease problems involving immunosuppression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Physiological Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Blakley
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Rousseaux
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects*; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007559:Ivermectin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007559:Ivermectin