title: Inhibition of murine plaque-forming cell responses in vivo by ribavirin.
abstract: The effects of ribavirin, a potent inhibitor of RNA and DNA virus replication, on the generation of primary plaque-forming cell (PFC) responses in vivo has been investigated. Intraperitoneal administration of ribavirin 1 day after immunization of C3H/HeJ mice with sheep erythrocytes (SRBC) suppressed splenic IgM and IgG PFC responses by 60 to 90%. Primary IgM PFC responses of C3HeB/FeJ mice to bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS), a T-independent antigen, were also inhibited to a similar extent. Inhibition of splenic PFC responses, without significant reduction in nucleated cell recoveries, was dose dependent between 0.5 and 4 mg ribavirin. Varying the time of treatment determined that optimal inhibitory activity occurred when ribavirin was administered simultaneously or 1 day after antigen. Kinetic analysis of PFC responses in ribavirin-treated mice revealed that suppression did not result from a delay in development since reduced numbers of PFC were found at all times after immunization. Ribavirin-treatment after primary sensitization in vivo also impaired the capacity of spleen cells to develop secondary PFC responses in vitro, indicating that ribavirin also inhibited memory cell generation.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000921:Antibody-Producing Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D006462:Hemolytic Plaque Technique; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012263:Ribonucleosides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012756:Sheep; D013045:Species Specificity; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D012263:Ribonucleosides; D012254:Ribavirin