INVITRO AND INVIVO EFFECTS OF LEVAMISOLE ON MONOCYTE CHEMOTAXIS IN NORMAL DONORS AND PATIENTS WITH COLORECTAL-CARCINOMA

  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 2  (2) , 167-174
Abstract
Levamisole, a synthetic phenylimidazothiozole, enhanced chemotaxis of monocytes from both normal individuals and those with colorectal carcinoma. The optimum concentration in vitro varied among individuals but occurred most consistently at 200 .mu.g/ml (.apprx. 10-3 M). Overall relative increase in monocyte chemotaxis in 123 individuals was 29.3 .+-. 4.2% (SE; P < 0.0001 by paired t test comparison of individual baseline to stimulated values). The frequency of significant augmentation was the same in both patient and normal groups (30-45% of individuals tested). The degree of enhancement in vitro was greatest in patients with colorectal carcinoma. Volunteers (29) ingested levamisole to evaluate in vivo effects on monocyte chemotaxis; significant increase occurred in 22. Both normal individuals and patients were stimulated to a similar degree and frequency. The immunomodulatory effects of levamisole may result from effects on monocyte function.