title: The effect of acyclovir on the proliferative capacity of mononuclear cells from patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
abstract: The cellular response of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia to increasing doses of acyclovir was examined by their capacity to incorporate 3H-TdR, and their response to phytohemagglutinin, concanavalin A and pokeweed mitogen. PBMC from healthy donors served as controls. Acyclovir caused a dose-dependent inhibition of 3H-TdR incorporation and mitogenic response in both leukemic and control cells, the effect on the latter being more pronounced. Although the results suggest that leukemic cells are less vulnerable than the controls, the toxic effect of acyclovir on the cellular immune response should be considered in the treatment of leukemic and other immunosuppressed patients.
authors.affiliation: Research Laboratory, Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tikva, Israel.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bessler
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Straussberg
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Djaldetti
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Salman
mesh_terms: D000212:Acyclovir / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000963:Antimetabolites / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003208:Concanavalin A; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens; D013936:Thymidine
chemical_list: D000963:Antimetabolites; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens; D003208:Concanavalin A; D013936:Thymidine; D000212:Acyclovir