Levamisole and human lymphocyte cultures

Abstract

Blood lymphocytes from normal subjects were cultured with levamisole in the absence or presence of phytohemagglutinin (PHA). Levamisole, by itself, did not stimulate the lymphocytes. Levamisole, at 10 −3 mg/ 100 ml, significantly increased the response to the mitogen. Other concentrations (from 1 mg to 10 −8 mg/ 100 ml) did not alter the response to PHA. The same effect, at the same concentration, was observed for isolated blood T cell rich populations in presence of PHA. Levamisole did not modify the PHA response of T cell poor populations. These experiments suggest that levamisole has an action on human T lymphocytes.