title: Thiabendazole (TBZ), an immunohemomodulator. II. Effects on thymocytes and prothymocytes.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to document the effects of TBZ on the early stages of T cell maturation. The method utilized to quantify presumptive thymocyte progenitors in the bone marrow used the enzyme terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) as a marker. Shifts in thymocyte populations were determined by quantitative planimetry, immunofluorescence for TdT and tritiated thymidine incorporation. When given alone, TBZ produced a marked increase in the number of large, mitotically active lymphoblasts in the thymus cortex. When given with DNFB, a thymus-dependent neoantigen, TBZ produced a significant increase in TdT-positive bone marrow cells. In a companion study, TBZ + DNFB were found to stimulate T cells in lymph node and spleen. Hence, the results indicate that under appropriate conditions, TBZ can stimulate all stages of T cell differentiation in mice.
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000187:drug effects; D004253:DNA Nucleotidylexotransferase / Q000378:metabolism; D004139:Dinitrofluorobenzene / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D013827:Thiabendazole / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D004139:Dinitrofluorobenzene; D004253:DNA Nucleotidylexotransferase; D013827:Thiabendazole; D013936:Thymidine