title: Immunomodulatory effects of glatiramer acetate on superantigen- and mitogen-induced T-cell stimulation in vitro.
abstract: Glatiramer acetate (GA) interferes with antigen recognition and modulates cytokine secretion of T cells in an antigen-specific manner. Here we analysed the capacity of GA to modulate proliferative responses and cytokine secretion of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in response to antigen-independent stimuli, i.e., phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) and staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) stimulation in five healthy volunteers. A significant reduction of proliferative responses, as well as interferon-gamma (IFNalpha) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) secretion, was observed at concentrations of 200 microg/ml suggesting that GA may also exert immunomodulatory effects on mitogen- and superantigen-induced T-cell stimulation in vitro. However, since systemic GA concentrations of this magnitude are highly unlikely to occur in vivo the immunomodulatory effects observed here are not likely to contribute to the therapeutic mechanisms of action under physiological conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Bonn, Germany. stephanschmidt@ukb.uni-bonn.de
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Balzer
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nüllen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pohl
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: von Rücker
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Klockgether
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D000068717:Glatiramer Acetate; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D018089:Superantigens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004768:Enterotoxins; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D008934:Mitogens; D010455:Peptides; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D018089:Superantigens; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D015847:Interleukin-4; C031818:enterotoxin B, staphylococcal; D000068717:Glatiramer Acetate; D007371:Interferon-gamma