In vitro effect of chloroquine, mefloquine and quinine on human lymphocyte proliferative responses to malaria antigens and other antigens/mitogens.
The effect of 3 antimalarial quinoline derivatives, chloroquine, mefloquine and quinine on human blood mononuclear cells in vitro was studied. High concentrations profoundly suppressed the proliferation of mitogen- and antigen-stimulated lymphocytes, as indicated by decreased 14C-thymidine incorporation. On a weight base, the most potent drug was mefloquine. At clinically relevant doses, chloroquine and mefloquine did not affect the response to malaria antigens, but mefloquine decreased the response to phytohaemagglutinin; quinine suppressed the response to all mitogens (with the exception of pokeweed mitogen) and antigens studied, including P. falciparum merozoites. The drugs' potential adverse effect on the immune system is discussed.
D000328:Adult; D000946:Antigens, Fungal / Q000276:immunology; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000276:immunology; D002738:Chloroquine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D015767:Mefloquine; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000276:immunology; D011803:Quinine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011804:Quinolines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014373:Tuberculin / Q000276:immunology
D000946:Antigens, Fungal; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D008934:Mitogens; D011804:Quinolines; D014373:Tuberculin; D002738:Chloroquine; D011803:Quinine; D015767:Mefloquine