Effects of antiallergic drugs on the proliferation of estrogen-sensitive mouse Leydig cell line.

The proliferation of B-1F cells established from an estrogen-sensitive mouse Leydig cell tumor is negatively regulated by leukotrienes, whose production is suppressed by the addition of estrogen. Disodium cromoglycate, tranilast, repirinast, tazanolast and pemirolast potassium are used as therapeutic agents for allergic diseases. They are known to inhibit the release of chemical mediators such as histamine and leukotrienes from peripheral leukocytes. It is therefore of interest to determine whether these drugs affect the proliferation of B-1 F cells. The drugs in the culture medium stimulated the proliferation of B-1F cells to various extents. The results suggest that chronic administration of these drugs to the patients with allergic diseases may possibly enhance the proliferation of some kinds of tumor cells, resulting in the change from latent to clinical tumors, although there are significant differences between in vitro cultured animal cells and in vivo humans.