title: In vitro and in vivo immunomodulatory effects of anti-Pneumocystis carinii drugs.
abstract: The anti-Pneumocystis carinii drug effects on mitogen-, antigen-, and interleukin-2-induced proliferative responses and on natural killer (NK) cell-mediated activity were analyzed in vivo (rats) and in vitro (normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells). Splenocytes derived from in vivo piritrexim- and clindamycin-treated rats showed a significant inhibition of mitogen-induced proliferative responses. In vitro exposure to clindamycin, piritrexim, and pyrimethamine caused an inhibition of human T lymphocyte proliferation in response to mitogen, antigen, and interleukin-2 stimulation. Rat NK cell-mediated cytotoxic activity was not affected by the drugs, and human NK cell activity was reduced only at the highest concentration (10 micrograms/ml) of the drugs. The potential immunotoxicity of the long-term administration of these agents in humans needs further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Viora
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Luca
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: D'Ambrosio
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Antinori
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ortona
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000946:Antigens, Fungal; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002981:Clindamycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D005493:Folic Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008934:Mitogens; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D011739:Pyrimethamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000946:Antigens, Fungal; D005493:Folic Acid Antagonists; D007376:Interleukin-2; D008934:Mitogens; D011743:Pyrimidines; D002981:Clindamycin; C024530:piritrexim; D011739:Pyrimethamine