title: The influence of antibiotics on the immune system. III. Investigations on the cellular functions of chicken leukocytes in vitro.
abstract: Tetracyclines are bacteriostatic antibiotics widely used in veterinary medicine. It is reported here that the tetracycline analogue oxytetracycline (OxyTC) interferes with the mitogenic response of chicken leukocytes. A dose-dependent suppression of lectin stimulation of peripheral blood and spleen leukocytes was observed. The kinetics of the DNA-synthetic activity were seriously affected. The antimicrobial agent does not seem to have any effect on interleukin 2 (IL-2) production, whereas the uptake of 3H-thymidine by IL-2-dependent T cell blasts was severely reduced. It is concluded that the T cell blast is the target for OxyTC.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002645:Chickens; D004261:DNA Replication / Q000187:drug effects; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis; D007700:Kinetics; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D010118:Oxytetracycline / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D010118:Oxytetracycline