Reduction in precursors of cytotoxic T lymphocytes and of cells with natural killer-like activity in spleens of cyclophosphamide-treated mice.
The effect of cyclophosphamide (CY) on precursors of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), specific for Moloney-murine leukemia virus (M-MuL V)- induced antigens, and on the precursors of cells having natural killer (NK)-like activity was studied by means of limiting dilution assay. Pre-treatment with a single CY dose of 100 mg/kg induced a marked reduction not only in the total spleen cell number but also in the frequencies of M-MuL V-specific CTL, and NK-like cell precursors. Maximal effect was obtained 2 days after CY injection, and a gradual recovery in both total spleen cell number and cytotoxic activity was achieved by day 12. These results confirm that CY exerts a strong but transient immunodepressive effect.
D000818:Animals; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000187:drug effects*
D003520:Cyclophosphamide