title: Evaluation of the immunotoxicity of benzoporphyrin derivative (BPD-MA) in mice.
abstract: Photodynamic therapy has been shown to selectively eliminate activated lymphocytes in a number of experimental situations. These findings have important implications in therapies involving selective immunomodulation. In this study we report the effects of intravenous dosing with the photosensitizer benzoporphyrin derivative-monoacid A(BPD) on normal immunological function. Therapeutic doses of BPD and light had no effect on natural killer cell activity, the mixed lymphocyte reaction, cell-mediated lympholysis, the primary immune response to sheep red blood cells, or the secondary memory response to T cell-dependent antigens. In non-light treated controls, BPD at concentrations up to 10-fold higher had a limited effect on cell-mediated lympholysis. We conclude that the primary effect of BPD in several therapeutic modalities in not due to a generalized suppression of the immune system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Waterfield
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fairhurst
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Waterfield
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Norbury
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D007117:Immunization, Secondary; D007156:Immunologic Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008805:Mice, Inbred A; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000633:toxicity*; D012756:Sheep; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; C504224:benzoporphyrin D; D010047:Ovalbumin