title: Effect of mechlorethamine on SRBC-induced secondary antibody response in mice.
abstract: The effect of low-dose mechlorethamine (5 micrograms/kg) on secondary humoral response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC), depending on time of exposure to the drug in relation to priming and challenge was studied in Balb/c mice. It was found that mechlorethamine in a dose of 5 micrograms/kg stimulated primary humoral response to SRBC resulting in the increased number of the plaque forming cells (PFC) and hemagglutinin titre (19S + 7S). However, this effect waned 10 days after immunization. On the other hand, the same mechlorethamine dose potentiated secondary humoral response to SRBC and increased the number of PFC and anti-SRBC hemagglutinin titres (notably 7S), which was due to the challenging antigenic stimulus. In each immunization, mechlorethamine administration prolonged the potentiating effect of the drug on anti-SRBC hemagglutinin titre. When mechlorethamine was administered to the mice only after priming, the number of PFC increased, but anti-SRBC hemagglutinin titre (7S) remained unchanged. This was likely due to the fact that mechlorethamine administered after priming increases the number of long-lived lymphocytes B, which in turn affect secondary humoral response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Agricultural University, Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Obmińska-Domoradzka
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Switała
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Debowy
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006388:Hemagglutinins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007114:Immunization; D008297:Male; D008466:Mechlorethamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D012756:Sheep; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D006388:Hemagglutinins; D008466:Mechlorethamine