title: [Effect of cysteine ethylester hydrochloride (Cystanin) on host defense mechanism].
abstract: Cysteine ethylester (10 approximately 100 mg/kg, p.o.) augmented the production of hemolytic plaque-forming cells (HPFC) to sheep red blood cells and lipopolysaccharide in the spleen of mice. It showed no effect, however, on the HPFC production to trinitrophenylated polyvinylpyrrolidone; and it had no activity as a polyclonal B cell activator like lipopolysaccharide. Cysteine ethylester at a concentration of 3 microM or more potentiated the phagocytosis of yeast by the peritoneal polymorphonuclear leukocytes of rats. This activity was less potent than that of levamisole and D-penicillamine. It also potentiated the reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) by blood leukocytes prepared from guinea pigs and a human being. This activity was more potent than that of levamisole and D-penicillamine. Furthermore, cysteine ethylester at doses showing an immunopotentiating activity protected irradiated mice from death by spontaneous infection. These findings suggest that this drug may have a capacity to potentiate the host defense mechanisms.
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D003545:Cysteine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006462:Hemolytic Plaque Technique; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity / Q000187:drug effects*; D007239:Infections / Q000276:immunology; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010396:Penicillamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; C031752:ethyl cysteine; D010396:Penicillamine; D003545:Cysteine