Effects of certain antirheumatic drugs on normal human peripheral blood lymphocytes. Inhibition of mitogen‐ and antigen‐stimulated incorporation of tritiated thymidine

Abstract

The effects of antirheumatic drugs on in vitro responses of normal human peripheral blood lymphocytes were examined and found to affect phytomitogen, antigen, and mixed lymphocyte responses. The drugs and concentrations (pg/ml) at which 50% inhibition (ID50) of phytomitogen stimulation occurred were acetylsalicylic acid, 80; phenylbutazone, 150; indomethacin, 250; sodium aurothiomalate, 200; hydroxychloroquine, 75; D-penicillamine, 400; hydrocortisone, 50; naproxen, 350; and sodium meclofenamate, 175. Acetaminophen enhanced blastogenesis by 100% at 200 pg/ml, but was 50% inhibitory at 500 pg/ml. Other drugs had no effects. Numbers of viable cells in cultures with and without mitogens and drugs were generally similar at beginnings and ends of experiments. Stimulated cell cultures containing combinations of drugs exhibited greater inhibition than did cultures of individual drugs. Inhibition by drugs was greater when cells were cultured in medium alone than in medium

Effect of antipyretic analgesics on immune responses to vaccination

“…Exposure of lymphocytes to the drug before mitogen stimulation did not result in increased responses. 25 In 1978, Goodwin and colleagues published the first randomized, open-label controlled study to examine the effect of antipyretics on immune response following vaccination in healthy human subjects. 26 In this study, 15 healthy males and females were given indomethacin 25 mg orally for 12 days, starting one day before immunization with bivalent influenza vaccine (A/New Jersey and A/Victoria).…”

Potential therapeutic applications of aspirin and other cyclo‐oxygenase inhibitors.

“…Thus, the effects of aspirin on the lymphocyte-macrophage axis involve not only inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis but also a direct effect on lymphocytes and their ability to produce lymphokines. Panush & Anthony (1976) and Crout, Hepburn & Ritts (1975) have observed that therapeutic doses of aspirin reduce the reactivity of lymphocytes to antigen or mitogen stimulation (see Figure 2). This effect of aspirin is consistent with Morley's suggestion that aspirin may have a direct effect on lymphocyte activation and lymphokine production.…”

Comparison of oral and i.v. acetylcysteine in the treatment of acetaminophen poisoning

“…[38][39][40] This is thought to be due to acetaminophen-induced inhibition of cyclooxygenase and the subsequent inhibition of prostaglandin and thromboxane synthesis. Schmidt and Dalhoff 36 postulated that acetaminophen inhibits the function of basophils and mast cells, resulting in decreased anaphylactoid reactions to acetylcysteine in patients with toxic acetaminophen serum levels.…”