Effect of the histone deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin a in human peripheral blood lymphocytes as a function of donor age.

The histone deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A (TSA) is a promising agent for the treatment of certain types of cancers alone or in synergistic combination with other anticancer agents. One of the advantages of the use of histone deacetylase inhibitors, such as TSA, is that its effects have been found to be more potent toward cancer cells compared to normal cells. The effect of anticancer agents on the immune system, and on lymphocytes in particular, is of major importance to the success of anticancer regimens.

Cell mediated cytotoxicity assessment by relative changes in viable target absolute counts.

We measured absolute counts (cells/microl) of Calcein-AM stained target cells that remained viable [i.e. not permeable to the viability probe 7-AAD (7-Amino Actinomycin D)] following a four-hour incubation with effectors [NK, CTL (cytotoxic T lymphocytes)] without using beads or standards.