Dithranol mediates pro-oxidative inhibition of polymorphonuclear leukocyte migration and lymphocyte proliferation.

Dithranol (0.01-1 micrograms/ml), but not the auto-oxidized form, caused a dose-related enhancement of the generation of reactive oxidants by leukoattractant-activated polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) in vitro. At the same concentrations dithranol inhibited both PMNL migration to leukoattractants and mitogen-stimulated mononuclear leukocyte (MNL) proliferation.

An in vivo and in vitro investigation of the phototoxic potential of tenoxicam, a new non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent.

The phototoxic potential of tenoxicam, a new non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), was investigated following oral and intradermal administration of the drug. No hypersensitivity responses to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) were observed for either orally or intradermally administered tenoxicam. In a parallel in vitro study, human polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNL) and mononuclear leucocytes (MNL) were exposed to UVR in the presence and absence of the NSAIDs tenoxicam, piroxicam and benoxaprofen (10-40 micrograms/ml).

Potentiation of the generation of reactive oxidants by human phagocytes during exposure to benoxaprofen and ultraviolet radiation in vitro.

The effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation on the spontaneous membrane-associated oxidative metabolism of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) and mononuclear leukocytes (MNL), co-incubated in the presence and absence of the non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) benoxaprofen at various concentrations, were investigated in vitro. Assays of superoxide generation and luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence (CL) were used to detect the production of reactive oxidants by PMNL and MNL. Benoxaprofen in the absence of UV radiation caused a dose-related activation of superoxide production and CL by PMNL.

A comparison of the effects of tobramycin and netilmycin on the functions of human polymorphonuclear leucocytes and lymphocytes in vitro and in vivo.

The effects of the antimicrobial agents tobramycin and netilmycin on the functions of human polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNLs) and on the mitogen-induced transformation of lymphocytes have been investigated both in vitro and in vivo before and 1 hour after a single intramuscular injection of the antibiotics. Neither antibiotic affected the migratory, phagocytic or antimicrobial capacities of PMNLs or the proliferative responses of lymphocytes to mitogens, at therapeutic concentrations or at 10-100-fold greater than therapeutic concentrations. Likewise, no alterations in these leucocyte functions accompanied the intramuscular injection of either antibiotic.

Chemoprophylaxis with erythromycin stearate or amoxycillin in patients with chronic bronchitis--effects on cellular and humoral immune functions.

Twenty-six patients aged between 27 and 71 years with chronic bronchitis were divided into a control group of 6 and two groups of 10 patients each who received either erythromycin stearate or amoxycillin 1500 mg/d for 2 weeks and 1000 mg/d for 12 weeks thereafter. Immunological function tests were performed before starting chemotherapy and thereafter at 2 weeks and 14 weeks. Clinical evaluations and lung function tests showed no significant changes in any of the groups during the study period.

Mononuclear and polymorphonuclear leucocyte dysfunction in male homosexuals with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

In addition to the well-documented abnormalities of cell-mediated immunity we have observed that both polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNLs) and mononuclear leucocytes (MNLs) from 3 patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) showed markedly defective migratory responsiveness to leuko-attractants in vitro. Reduced PMNL and MNL chemotaxis is attributable, at least in part, to a serum inhibitor of leucocyte migration, since co-incubation of PMNLs from healthy control subjects with 10% AIDS serum inhibited the migration to leuko-attractants of these cells. This serum-inhibitory effect on leucocyte migration was not due to the presence in AIDS serum of increased levels of prostaglandin E2, cytomegalo-virus or anti-leukocyte antibodies.

Studies on the effects of ingestion of a single 500 mg oral dose of erythromycin stearate on leucocyte motility and transformation and on release in vitro of prostaglandin E2 by stimulated leucocytes.

Polymorphonuclear leucocyte (PMNL) and mononuclear leucocyte (MNL) migration to the leucoattractant endotoxin-activated serum as well as MNL mitogen-induced transformation were measured in normal adult volunteers before and 1 1/2 h and 96 h after the ingestion of a single oral dose of 500 mg of erythromycin stearate. Ingestion of the antibiotic was associated with a significant increase in PMNL migration at 1 1/2 h with a return to normal levels at 96 h. Slight but insignificant enhancement of MNL migration and of transformation to mitogens was detected after erythromycin.

Benoxaprofen activation of suppressor activity in mononuclear leucocytes by a pro-oxidative mechanism in vitro.

The effects of benoxaprofen on spontaneous and concanavalin A-induced suppressor activity in human mononuclear leucocytes (MNL) were assessed in vitro. The drug was used at a fixed concentration of 10(-4) M (30 micrograms/ml) in these studies. Benoxaprofen-treated MNL suppressed the responsiveness of untreated autologous MNL to the mitogen phytohaemagglutinin and potentiated the induction of suppressor activity in MNL by concanavalin A.

Effects of cefotaxime on neutrophil and lymphocyte functions.

The effects of cefotaxime on neutrophil functions in vitro were investigated. The in vivo effects of intramuscular injection of 1 g cefotaxime on mitogen-induced lymphocyte transformation as well as neutrophil functions were also studied. Cefotaxime in vitro significantly inhibited migration of neutrophils towards endotoxin-activated serum at a concentration of 10(-3)M and towards the synthetic chemotactic tripeptide N-formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine at a concentration of greater than 10(-5)M.

Immunological abnormalities in South African homosexual men.

Immunological tests of cell-mediated immunity (CMI), serological tests for antibodies to sexually transmitted and possibly immunosuppressive viruses, determination of serum immunoglobulin levels, full blood counts and serotyping for the HLA-DRw5 antigen were performed in 10 homosexual men with a mean age of 35 years (range 21-59 years). Five of these were associates of a patient who had died of confirmed acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). At the time of investigation 9 of the men were apparently healthy and 1 had active pulmonary tuberculosis.

The antirheumatic effect of benoxaprofen.

This study was undertaken to investigate the antirheumatic activity of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug benoxaprofen. Ten patients with definite or classic rheumatoid arthritis were assessed before beginning drug therapy, using standard clinical criteria and serological tests of disease activity. These tests were repeated monthly during treatment with benoxaprofen for a period of 6 months.

The effects of ketoconazole on cellular and humoral immune functions.

The effects of ketoconazole at varying concentrations on in-vitro neutrophil random migration, chemotaxis to autologous endotoxin--activated serum and the synthetic chemotactic tripeptide N-formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine, phagocytosis and postphagocytic hexose monophosphate shunt activity and myeloperoxidase--mediated protein iodination were investigated. Neutrophil functions, in-vivo mitogen-induced lymphocyte transformation and levels of serum immunoglobulins and complement components were also assessed before and after ingestion of ketoconazole by six individuals. It was found that ketoconazole caused stimulation of neutrophil migration to leucoattractants 2 h after ingestion of a single dose of 400 mg ketoconazole.

Prevention of induction of suppressor activity in human mononuclear leukocytes by ascorbate and cysteine in vitro.

Concanavalin A (con A) and the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug benoxaprofen caused increased oxidative metabolism and suppressor activity in human mononuclear leukocytes in vitro. The relationship between enhanced oxidative metabolism and suppressor activity in MNL was investigated using the water-soluble anti-oxidants ascorbate and cysteine at fixed concentrations of 1 X 10(-3) M. Ascorbate and cysteine inhibited both the induction of suppressor activity and increased oxidative metabolism in MNL caused by con A and benoxaprofen.