Sodium diethyldithiocarbamate influences the early immunological changes evoked by an acute non-antigenic inflammation process.

Calcium pyrophosphate (CaPp) produces an acute local inflammatory process when administered intra-pleurally. It is the simplest model of an inflammation uncomplicated by pharmacological properties of the agent or the presence of an antigen. Spleen or lymph-node T- or B-cell numbers and activities, including NK activity, are modified within 2 h under these conditions. A treatment with sodium diethyldithiocarbamate (lmuthiol), already known as a T-cell augmenting agent, restores towards normal values both the inflammatory reaction and the modified immune parameters induced in mice by CaPp pleurisy. The use of lmuthiol as a non-toxic, non-steroidal antiinflammatory agent is therefore suggested.