Effect of cysteine ethylester hydrochloride (Cystanin) on host defense mechanisms (III): Potentiating effects on phagocytosis and nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction by leukocytes of mice and guinea pigs

Abstract

ICR mice were treated orally with cysteine ethylester hydrochloride (ethylcysteine, 10 and 100 mg/kg) immediately before the intraperitoneal injection of yeast particles. This agent significantly potentiated phagocytosis of yeast particles by peritoneal polymorphonuclear leukocytes in mice obtained 2 hr after the yeast injection, and the treatment with this agent (3 and 30 mg/kg, p.o.) 4 hr before the injection of yeast potentiated phagocytosis of yeast particles by mouse peritoneal leukocytes. This agent (30 mg/kg, p.o.) restored the suppression of phagocytosis of mouse leukocytes by the intraperitoneal administration of cyclophosphamide (30 mg/kg, i.p.) 24 hr before the yeast injection. This agent (10-100 mg/kg, p.o.) had no effect on the decrease of peripheral leukocyte number in irradiated mice (560 rad), but restored the suppression of phagocytosis, nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction and stimulated NBT reduction by the addition of lipopolysaccharide. Furthermore, this agent (3-30 mg/kg, p.o.) potentiated phagocytosis, NBT reduction and stimulated NBT reduction of peripheral leukocytes obtained from guinea pigs 2 and 6 hr after ethylcysteine treatment. It is suggested that ethylcysteine potentiates phagocytosis and NBT reduction of leukocytes in animals, and it restores phagocytosis and NBT reduction inhibited by the treatment with cyclophosphamide or X-ray irradiation. It may be possible that this stimulating effect of ethylcysteine could be at least in part involved in the stimulation of nonspecific resistance to infection in the compromised host.