Levamisole as an immunopotentiator for T cell deficiency

Levamisole stimulates proliferation of circulating and intestinal immune cell subsets, gut health and performance in weaned pigs

Valpotić, H., Šperanda, M., Kovšca-Janjatović, A., Ðidara, M., Lacković, G., Božić, F., Habrun, B., Srečec, S., Mataušić-Pišl, M. and Valpotić, I. 2014. Levamisole stimulates proliferation of circulating and intestinal immune cell subsets, gut health and performance in weaned pigs. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 94: 43–53. With the growing knowledge of the porcine immune system and its endogenous modulation, it has been clearly stated that exogenous modulation through the use of substances able to modulate immune functions represents an important prophylactic/therapeutic approach in prevention/treatment of both stress- and F4+ and F18+ enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC)-induced infections accompanied weaning. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of levamisole (LEVA; 2.5 mg kg−1 BW in 10 mL) applied per os to weaned pigs in proliferation of circulating and intestinal immune cell subsets throughout a period of 5 wk. Changes in proportion or number of peripheral blood and ileal mucosal leukocytes tested were studied either weekly by flow cytometry or at the end of the experiment (day 35) by immunohistology/histomorphometry, respectively. Pigs treated with LEVA had increased proportions of peripheral blood CD45+ lymphoid cells, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and CD21+ B cells (P<0.01) between days 14 and 35 following the treatment. Also, LEVA stimulated the proliferation of CD45RA+ naïve lymphoid cells in interfollicular (P<0.001) and follicular areas (P<0.05) of ileal Peyer’s patches at day 35 of the experiment. These pigs had a significantly higher (P<0.05) average body weight (19.7 vs. 17.1 kg) and weight gain at the end of experiment compared with the control pigs (for 15%). We conclude that LEVA stimulated the proliferation of circulating and intestinal lymphoid cell subsets tested and improved performance in weaned pigs, and thus, the drug may nonspecifically enhance their immunity/resistance to F4+ and F18+ ETEC strains.

[Immunosuppressive effects of a new phenothiazine derivative]

An original phenothiazine, CPTZ, was tested for its effects on the mouse immune system. Serum opsonic capacity, phagocyte and bactericidal activity of peritoneal macrophages, counts of splenic cells forming hemolysis plaques, and the number of survivors after experimental infection were recorded. The effects observed were compared with those produced by levamisole (a non-selective immunomodulator) and indometacin (an antiinflammatory drug with selective immunomodulator properties). The effects of CPTZ might be useful for the development of a new class of immunosuppressor drugs.

Effects of metronidazole and its metabolites on histamine immunosuppression activity

We have previously reported that metronidazole treatment increases human lymphocyte proliferation showing individual differences. This drug and its metabolites are imidazole compounds like histamine and cimetidine. The first is an endogenous amine that inhibits T-helper lymphocyte proliferation, and the second is a histamine antagonist. We presently report the in vitro effects of histamine, cimetidine, imidazole, metronidazole and its two principal metabolites (the acetic acid and hydroxy forms), on the mitogenic response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulation of human peripheral blood lymphocytes. Histamine decreased lymphocyte proliferation while (in order of potency) cimetidine, the hydroxy metabolite of metronidazole, imidazole and metronidazole, increased the mitogenic response to PHA in a dose-response fashion. The acetic acid metabolite lacked immunomodulatory effects. Competitive studies showed that cimetidine, metronidazole, and the hydroxy metabolite blocked the inhibitory effect of histamine on lymphocyte proliferation in a dose-related manner. This blockage was non-competitive, suggesting that the target of the imidazole compounds was not the active site of the H2 receptor.