title: The potential immunosuppressive effect of bilirubin.
abstract: The effect of bilirubin on the cells of the immune system was studied using various in vitro and in vivo systems. Bilirubin was found to inhibit the in vitro chemotactic (migratory) activity of human granulocytes; on the other hand, a temporary stimulation of phagocytic activity of both granulocytes and monocytes was found in mice injected with a single i.p. injection of bilirubin. Continuous i.v. infusion of bilirubin produced a significant decrease of antibody (plaque) forming cells in the spleens of mice immunized with sheep red blood cells. In newborns suffering from hyperbilirubinaemia, enhanced proportion of "activated" lymphocytes occurred. Finally, bilirubin possessed a significant in vitro cytotoxic effect in human adult and newborn blood lymphocytes and granulocytes. A brief survey of so far known immunological effects of bilirubin is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for the Care of Mother and Child, Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, Prague.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Miler
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Síma
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vĕtvická
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Indrová
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Slavíková
mesh_terms: D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects; D000921:Antibody-Producing Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / Q000187:drug effects; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006932:Hyperbilirubinemia / Q000276:immunology; D007109:Immunity / Q000187:drug effects*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D001663:Bilirubin