title: Modulation of murine in vitro immune response by verapamil (V).
abstract: Functionally distinct lymphocyte subsets differ with regard to necessary activation signals. In selected circumstances lymphocyte activation has been shown to be critically dependent upon transcellular calcium influx. Whether calcium plays a central role in the activation of all lymphocytes remains to be determined. The effect of the calcium channel blocker verapamil on the induction of murine cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), suppressor cells, T helper cells, and B cells was investigated. Verapamil (V) was found to inhibit the induction of cytotoxic effector cells. V acted primarily on the afferent limb of this immune response, was synergistic with cyclosporin A (CsA), and its effects could be largely reversed by the addition of exogenous helper factors. V also inhibited B cell proliferation in response to anti-mouse IgM in the presence of 2-mercaptoethanol, but in the absence of cognate or non-cognate T cell help. In contrast to this, V did not inhibit the activation of cells capable of inducing B cell proliferation nor did it inhibit the induction of suppressor cells. The selective suppression of V is discussed in terms of activation requirements of CTL, suppressor cells and helper cell subsets.
authors: Division of Nephrology, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick 08903-0019.
authors: A B
authors: AB
authors: Singh
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Hiehle
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Casale
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Gerber
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Nayar
authors: R A
authors: RA
authors: Mann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D014700:Verapamil / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D014700:Verapamil; D002118:Calcium