Effects of diphenylhydantoin on killer cell activity and other immunological functions. A sequential study including the interaction of Corynebacterium parvum in melanoma patients.
The effects of a single Phenytoin dose, given to patients with malignant melanoma, upon peripheral blood counts, serum immunoglobulins, lymphocyte subpopulations and lymphocytotoxicity (using Chang target cells) were recorded. Sequential blood samples were taken before and 10, 14, 34, 38 and 58 h after the Phenytoin. Early reductions (P less than 0.05) in lymphocyte count, NK, K and PHA induced cytotoxicity, when compared with initial, pre-Phenytoin values were noted. Immunisation with i.v. C. parvum prevented the reductions occurring after a second dose of Phenytoin. Indeed, significant increases above the values of samples taken immediately before the second dose, were observed in T cells, PHA blastogenesis, NK and K cell Cytotoxicity. The second dose did however cause some immunosuppression; the increase in T cells, NK and PHA induced cytotoxicity above initial values expected from previous investigations were not observed. The immunosuppression, particularly of killer cell function, occurring after phenytoin could have implications for the pathogenesis of malignancy and transplacental carcinogenesis, reported as following Phenytoin exposure.
D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007167:Immunotherapy; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000276:immunology*; D010672:Phenytoin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D011425:Propionibacterium acnes / Q000276:immunology*; D012397:Rosette Formation
D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D010672:Phenytoin