title: Immunomodulation and Sézary syndrome: experience with thymopentin (TP-5).
abstract: The clinical, histological and immunological effects of long-term treatment with thymopentin (TP-5), administered 50 mg i.v. three times a week on alternate days, in four patients with Sézary syndrome is reported. In all four cases reduction of itching, oedema, scaling and thickening, and clearing of erythroderma were noted after 2 months treatment. Peripheral blood Sézary cells decreased in three cases. Reduction or suspension of the drug was followed by a clinical relapse. A loss of epidermotropism and a reduction in cell infiltrates were observed together with a dramatic reduction in epidermal and dermal Langerhans cells. An increase in the proliferative response to mitogens and in IFN-gamma production, and the expression of activation antigens in PHA stimulated cultures occurred after 3 months. HNK-I+ cells increased both in the peripheral blood and in the dermis following a transient increase in IL-2 receptors, suggesting that clinical response in TP-5 treated patients may be mediated by an increased production of IL-2 and consequent generation of cytotoxic cells or release of lymphokines able to augment NK activity.
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010641:Phenotype; D012751:Sezary Syndrome / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D016305:Thymopentin; D013946:Thymopoietins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013951:Thymus Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D013946:Thymopoietins; D013951:Thymus Hormones; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D016305:Thymopentin