The influence of antibiotics on the immune system. III. Investigations on the cellular functions of chicken leukocytes in vitro.
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.
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*
D007376:Interleukin-2; D010118:Oxytetracycline