title: Immunological consequences of in vitro exposure to lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD).
abstract: The ability of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) to alter immune function after direct in vitro exposure was examined. It was demonstrated that LSD is able to suppress the proliferation of B-lymphocytes; the production of the cytokines IL-2, IL-4, and IL-6; and the induction of cytotoxic T-lymphocytes at a concentration of 100 microM. In vitro exposure to LSD had differential effects on natural killer (NK) cell activity, with significant enhancement of both basal and IL-2-augmented NK cell function at concentrations between 0.0001 and 0.1 microM, and suppression of NK response at 100 microM. These results demonstrate that LSD may have a direct effect on components of the immune system at concentrations that may be reached upon human exposure.
authors.affiliation: IIT Research Institute, Chicago, IL 60616.
authors.forename: R V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: House
authors.forename: P T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: H N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Bhargava
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D007378:Interleukins / Q000378:metabolism; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects*; D008238:Lysergic Acid Diethylamide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D007378:Interleukins; D008238:Lysergic Acid Diethylamide