Cytotoxic and immunomodulative effects of flunitrazepam, zipeprol and trihexyphenidyl on human peripheral blood lymphocytes.
The cytotoxic effects of flunitrazepam, zipeprol and trihexyphenidyl on cell viability of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy volunteers were studied at concentrations from 10(-2) to 10(-8) M by 2 colorimetric in vitro assays: the neutral red uptake assay and thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide assay. All tested drugs of abuse were non-cytotoxic at concentrations lower than 10(-5) M. Possible immunomodulative effects of these substances were evaluated through phytohemagglutinin induced lymphocyte proliferation ([3H]-thymidine DNA incorporation assay) and by a 51Cr release natural killer assay. The 3 drugs studied produced statistically significant immunomodulative alterations on both immunological parameters.
Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Greece.
C
C
Maravelias
A
A
Dona
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S
Athanaselis
M
M
Stefanidou
A
A
Koutselinis
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000633:toxicity*; D000328:Adult; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005445:Flunitrazepam / Q000633:toxicity*; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000633:toxicity*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D010879:Piperazines / Q000633:toxicity*; D014282:Trihexyphenidyl / Q000633:toxicity*
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D010879:Piperazines; D005445:Flunitrazepam; D014282:Trihexyphenidyl; C013341:zipeprol