title: Evaluation of the mechanisms involved in sodium diethyl dithiocarbamate-induced immunomodulation using the hydrophilic analog, sodium N-methyl-D-glucamine dithiocarbamate.
abstract: Sodium diethyl dithiocarbamate (DE-DTC) is a lipophilic low molecular weight sulphur compound previously demonstrated to be a potent immunomodulator but cytotoxic in vitro. In this work, we studied the effects on a hydrophilic analog of DE-DTC, sodium N-Methyl-D-glucamine dithiocarbamate (NMG-DTC) on immune responses to a hapten carrier conjugate and on mitogen-induced lymphoproliferation. NMG-DTC, in contrast to DE-DTC, did not modify the responses to a hapten-carrier conjugate. The immunomodulatory activity of DE-DTC appeared to be linked with its lipophilicity. NMG-DTC had a slight inhibitory effect on thymidine incorporation by lymphocytes stimulated by mitogens as compared to that of DE-DTC. DE-DTC was cytotoxic possibly at the cell membrane level; cytotoxicity was not related to the chelating properties of DE-DTC in the culture medium. On the other hand, NMG-DTC appeared to be a less cytotoxic molecule. Therefore it could be useful to study the effects of the dithiocarbamate moiety at the cellular level.
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000818:Animals; D001183:Arthus Reaction; D004050:Ditiocarb / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006241:Haptens / Q000276:immunology; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000209:etiology; D007121:Immunocompetence; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D012882:Skin Tests; D013012:Sorbitol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D013113:Spin Labels; D013859:Thiocarbamates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D006241:Haptens; D013113:Spin Labels; D013859:Thiocarbamates; D013012:Sorbitol; C041262:N-methyl-D-glucamine dithiocarbamate; D004050:Ditiocarb