title: Selective inhibition of the in vitro murine B lymphocyte response by pentamidine.
abstract: A study was undertaken on the immunomodulating properties of pentamidine, a diamidine used in the treatment of African trypanosomiasis, pneumocystosis and leishmaniasis. Pentamidine inhibited the ability of mouse splenic lymphocytes to respond to mitogens. In particular inhibition of the B lymphocyte response was observed. At concentrations of 1 microgram/ml (1.7 x 10(-6) M), pentamidine markedly inhibited the response to the B cell mitogen, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), while concentrations of 10 micrograms/ml had to be attained to produce a similar effect on the response to the T cell mitogens phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) and concanavalin A (ConA). Further studies showed that pentamidine was not toxic to either resting or proliferating cells and probably acts by interacting directly with B cells rather than modifying the regulatory cell populations.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferrante
authors.forename: L K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Secker
authors.forename: Y H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Thong
mesh_terms: D000578:Amidines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000187:drug effects; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D010419:Pentamidine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000578:Amidines; D010419:Pentamidine