title: Enhancement of antibody response and delayed-type hypersensitivity by thalidomide in mice.
abstract: Renewed interest in thalidomide stemmed from the suggestion by several authors that it might prove useful against immune-related diseases. Despite interesting preliminary findings, little is actually known regarding its immunoenhancing properties in vivo. Male and female Swiss mice, aged 6-8 wk, were given 0.5 or 25 mg/kg/day of thalidomide orally for 4 wk. Various immunological parameters were then assessed. When compared to controls, mice exposed to the higher dose presented with a significantly increased thymus weight index, whereas spleen weight index remained unchanged. Anti-sheep erythrocyte plaque-forming cells and hemagglutinin titers were increased by 44% and 29%, respectively. Contact hypersensitivity to picryl chloride was enhanced by 62%. Finally, colloidal carbon clearance was not altered. Interestingly, the lower dose (5 mg/kg/day) exerted no effect whatsoever.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Pharmacologie, Unité Mixte INSERM U80-CNRS URA190-UCBL, Faculté de Médecine Alexis Carrel, Lyon, France.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Descotes
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tedone
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Evreux
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D013792:Thalidomide