Premium
Immunological Effects of d ‐Penicillamine during Experimentally Induced Inflammation in Rats
Author(s) -
BINDERUP L.,
BRAMM E.,
ARRIGONIMARTELLI E.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.934
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1365-3083
pISSN - 0300-9475
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3083.1980.tb00064.x
Subject(s) - penicillamine , concanavalin a , lipopolysaccharide , inflammation , lymph node , medicine , endocrinology , cell , lymphocyte , macrophage , immunology , chemistry , adjuvant , in vitro , biochemistry
Administration of d ‐penicillamine (50 mg/kg/day orally) to rats with adjuvant arthritis for up to 42 days significantly modified the incorporation of 3 H‐thymidine ( 3 H‐TdR) in concanavalin A (Con A)‐stimulated lymph node cells. Treatment with d ‐penicillamine abolished the ability of macrophages from arthritic rats to inhibit lymphocyte responsiveness to Con A and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) 14 days after the induction of the disease. Increased T‐cell responsiveness to Con A was found from day 14 to day 35 in cultures of unseparated and adherent‐cell‐depleted lymph node cells from d ‐penicillamine‐treated arthritic rats. B‐cell responsiveness to LPS was not affected. Experiments with bovine serum albumin gradient‐separated lymph node cells confirmed these findings and indicated that treatment with d ‐penicillamine may specifically enhance T‐helper cell responsiveness to Con A. It is suggested that administration of d ‐penicillamine may interfere with macrophage function during the course of an immunologically induced chronic inflammation, leading to an increased response of T‐helper cells. The theoretical implications of these findings are discussed.