SOME IMMUNOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF PENICILLAMINE

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 30  (2) , 317-322
Abstract
Immunological effects of D- and D,L-penicillamine (PA) were studied in efforts to develop assays for synthetic D or D,L analogs and to contribute to the understanding of the mechanism(s) of action of D-PA in rheumatoid arthritis. At the highest doses tolerated by mice, D,L-PA did not significantly inhibit the development of hemagglutinating antibodies in vivo. In studies in vitro with T [thymus derived] lymphocytes, D-PA at 1 mM concentration inhibited concanavalin A and phytohemagglutinin-induced transformation as assayed by [3H]thymidine incorporation. D-PA concentrations of 5 mM were required to inhibit concanvalin A-induced amino acid uptake. No effect of D-PA was observed on the induction of cytotoxic T cells or on the attack of specifically sensitized T cells on target cells, D-PA at 1 mM concentration did inhibit lipopolysaccharide-induced transformation, which predominately stimulates B [bone marrow derived] lymphocytes. The effects of PA on the induced transformation of T and B cells deserve further attention for studies with analogs of PA.