D-penicillamine in vivo enhances lymphocyte DNA synthesis: role of macrophages.
Administration of D-penicillamine (50 mg/kg/day orally) for 4 days increased the uptake of 3H-thymidine (3H-TdR) in unstimulated and concanavalin-A-stimulated unseparated lymph node and spleen cells from Lewis rats. Increased 3H-TdR incorporation was also found in cultures depleted of adherent cells. D-Penicillamine treatment did not increase the incorporation of 3H-TdR in lymph node and spleen cells from rats concomitantly treated with the selective macrophage toxin silica. In contrast, treatment with D-penicillamine during the last 4 days of silica treatment sometimes resulted in a marked decrease in 3H-TdR incorporation. It is suggested that D-penicillamine treatment in vivo is able to enhance the responsiveness of the lymphocytes, dependent on the presence of functionally intact macrophages. The increased response vanished after 2-3 weeks, even with continuous administration of D-penicillamine.
Binderup
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L
Department of Pharmacology, Leo Pharmaceutical Products, Ballerup, Denmark.
Bramm
E
E
Arrigoni-Martelli
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E
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000166:cytology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000502:physiology*; D010396:Penicillamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology
D003208:Concanavalin A; D010396:Penicillamine