title: Methimazole inhibits peripheral lymphocyte proliferation by inducing S-quiescent phase arrest.
abstract: The influence of methimazole (MTI) on the mitogenic proliferation of human blood lymphocytes was studied in vitro to evaluate the potential immunomodulatory activity of this antithyroid drug. The effects of the drug on the lymphocyte cell cycle were assessed by multiparametric flow cytometry. Although MTI induced an increase in the number of lymphocytes in the synthesis and G2M compartments, it failed to stimulate proliferation as the cells tended to accumulate in the quiescent S compartment. The effect was dose-dependent over a range from 0.1 to 100 mM. These in vitro results indicate that MTI possesses immunosuppressive activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Organic and Therapeutic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Limoges, France.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Chabernaud
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Lagorce
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Ratinaud
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Buxeraud
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Raby
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008713:Methimazole / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011419:Propidium; D016196:S Phase / Q000187:drug effects*; D013194:Staining and Labeling
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011419:Propidium; D008713:Methimazole; D004247:DNA; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine