title: Effects of Wy-18,251 (3-p-chlorophenyl)thiazolo[3,2-a]benzimidazole- 2-acetic acid), levamisole and indomethacin on the generation of murine T suppressor cells in vitro.
abstract: In vitro culture of normal BALB/c spleen cells with staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) activates antigen non-specific suppressor T cells (Ts) which can be assayed by their ability to suppress antibody production in a plaque assay. Addition of the experimental immunomodulatory drug Wy-18,251 (10-100 microM) to cultures of spleen cells plus SEB significantly increased Ts activity relative to cultures without the drug. Similar results were obtained with levamisole, but, in contrast, indomethacin (0.1-10 microM) inhibited SEB-induced suppressor cell activity. The ability of Wy-18,251 to augment Ts activity could be therapeutically useful in the treatment of those autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus, in which hyperactive B cell function is a characteristic feature.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000276:immunology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007978:Levamisole / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D001562:Benzimidazoles; D004768:Enterotoxins; D007978:Levamisole; C031818:enterotoxin B, staphylococcal; C029171:tilomisole; D007213:Indomethacin