INVITRO REVERSAL OF CELLULAR UNRESPONSIVENESS INDUCED BY LEVAMISOLE

  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 26  (2) , 295-301
Abstract
Mononuclear cells from 21 patients with depressed cellular reactivity were assessed for the ability to produce leukocyte inhibitory factor (LIF) and to transform after PHA [phytohemagglutinin] stimulation, in the presence or absence of levamisole. Cells from 19 patients failed to produce significant lymphokines when stimulated with PHA alone, but after a prior 1 h levamisole pulse normal amounts of LIF were produced. Unstimulated mononuclear cell supernatants from 6 patients showed LIF-like activity, which could be abolished or decreased in 5 of the 6 when the cells were initially treated with levamisole. Mononuclear cells from 7 of 12 patients which failed to incorporate [3H]thymidine after PHA activation, showed an increased response after a 1 h levamisole pulse. Unstimulated mononuclear supernatants from 6 patients inhibited the lymphoproliferative response of normal cells to PHA. After treatment with levamisole, however, the suppressive effect of these supernatants was decreased or abolished. In vitro levamisole treatment restores cellular responsiveness in anergic patients and restricts the uncontrolled release of inhibitory factors.