title: Restoration of immunity in burned mice by cimetidine.
abstract: We have previously described a mouse model of postburn suppression of cell-mediated immunity (CMI). Ear swelling (ES) in response to contact antigen challenge is depressed maximally 14 days following a 25% steam burn and recovers to control levels 3 weeks postburn. Splenic lymphocyte proliferation in response to Concanavalin A (Con A) is also depressed 14 days postburn. Splenic T-lymphocyte subset analysis with monoclonal antibodies for helper cells (Lyt 1.2) and suppressor cells (Lyt 2.2) reveals that T-helper cells reach a minimal level and T suppressor cells reach a maximum level 14 days postburn. The helper: suppressor ratio (HSR) reaches its nadir at day 14. Treatment of burned mice with low-dose cimetidine (2 or 10 mg/kg/day), but not high-dose (50 mg/kg/day), for 14 days restores CMI. Low-dose cimetidine also normalizes the HSR but does not effect postburn depression of mitogen responsiveness. Low-dose cimetidine probably restores CMI by inhibiting suppressor cells, whereas high doses provide more global inhibition. Recovery of mitogen responsiveness may require continued cimetidine presence in culture.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Bender
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Hansbrough
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zapata-Sirvent
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: H N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Claman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002056:Burns / Q000276:immunology*; D002927:Cimetidine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D004139:Dinitrofluorobenzene / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000187:drug effects; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D003208:Concanavalin A; D002927:Cimetidine; D004139:Dinitrofluorobenzene