Abstract
The antiviral drug acyclovir [9-(2-hydroxyethoxymethyl)guanine (ACV)], its 7-isomer (7-ACV) and its two derivatives: N2-acetyl ACV (ac-ACV) and N2,O-diacetyl ACV (diac-ACV) were examined for their potential in vitro lymphotoxicity and in vivo immunotoxicity in mice. In vitro lymphotoxicity of ACV and its acetylated derivatives was low, whereas the 7-ACV isomer enhanced the in vitro cell proliferation in PHA-stimulated cultures. Addition of 2'-deoxyguanosine (dGuo) did not exhibit any inhibitory potential of ACV. However, reduction in the absolute number of CD3+, CD8+, and CD25+ cells, but not Ig+ cells, was noted at high concentrations of ACV and its derivatives, suggesting a selective T cell cytotoxicity. Similarly, the in vivo exposure revealed selective T cell immunotoxicity of ACV and its derivatives since the reduced number of Thy 1.2+ and CD8+ cells was not accompanied with any marked changes in the Ig+ population. The CD4+/CD8+ ratio was affected both in vitro and in vivo by high concentrations of ACV.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 429-438 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | International Journal of Immunopharmacology |
Volume | 18 |
Issue number | 6-7 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jun 1996 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Acyclovir
- Cytometric assay
- Immunopharmacolog
- Immunotoxicity
- In vitro lymphotoxicity
- Lymphocyte subsets
- Mouse lymphocyte
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology
- Pharmacology