Cimetidine as an immune response modifier.
Cimetidine, a selective histamine-2 receptor antagonist, has attracted interest because of its potential as an immune response-modifying drug. Most data suggest that cimetidine has a stimulatory action on the immune system, possibly by blocking of receptors on subsets of T-lymphocytes and inhibiting histamine-induced immune suppression. Several studies have shown that cimetidine can affect the relative number of CD8 + ve lymphocytes and increase the NK cell activity as well as the antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. Cimetidine has also been used successfully to restore immune functions in patients with malignant disorders, hypogammaglobulinemia and AIDS-related complexes.
Hast
R
R
Department of Medicine, Danderyd Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Bernell
P
P
Hansson
M
M
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D002927:Cimetidine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006632:Histamine / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D002927:Cimetidine; D006632:Histamine