title: Non-specific systemic immune suppression induced by photodynamic treatment of lymph node cells with bacteriochlorin a.
abstract: Although photodynamic therapy is being used increasingly for the treatment of cancer, its effect on immune responses has received little attention. This aspect was studied in a rat model. Rats were given (intravenously) lymph node cells which were simultaneously exposed to a photosensitizer and light. As a result of this treatment the animals showed a decreased contact hypersensitivity response. Most important is that the generated immunosuppression proved to be non-specific. The consequence of this finding may be that photodynamic therapy of tumours can inhibit the immune response against malignant cells.
authors.affiliation: Leiden/Amsterdam Center for Drug Research, Department of Medicinal Photochemistry, Leiden University, Netherlands.
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: van Iperen
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Schuitmaker
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Beijersbergen van Henegouwen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000276:immunology; D004139:Dinitrofluorobenzene / Q000276:immunology; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D008027:Light; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000528:radiation effects; D008297:Male; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010853:Picryl Chloride / Q000276:immunology; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; C065423:bacteriochlorin a; D004139:Dinitrofluorobenzene; D010853:Picryl Chloride