Immunosuppressive effects of the macrolide antibiotic bafilomycin towards lymphocytes and lymphoid cell lines

Arzneimittelforschung. 1988 Aug;38(8):1130-3.

Abstract

The effects of bafilomycin macrolide antibiotics on primary lymphocytes and on tumor cell lines were investigated. Bafilomycin A markedly suppressed DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis in splenocyte cultures of several inbred mouse strains. Bafilomycins were also inhibitory towards cultures of concanavalin A- or lipopolysaccharide-activated murine spleen cells, and inhibited the mitogen-induced differentiation of B lymphocytes into immunoglobulin-secreting plasma cells. Corresponding results were obtained in human cell cultures. A hydrolysis product of the bafilomycin molecule was inactive. Bafilomycin also inhibited the growth of various lymphoid cell lines, the B cell line BCL1, the macrophage cell lines J774 and P338D1, and the T cell line EL4. The sensitivity of the tumor cell lines increased when, simultaneously with bafilomycin, mitogens were applied to the cell cultures. The immunosuppressive action of cyclosporin A could be enhanced by bafilomycin, which could be of importance for the elucidation of the molecular mechanism of T cell suppression, and for applied medical research.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • B-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • Cell Division / drug effects
  • Cell Line
  • Chemical Phenomena
  • Chemistry
  • Cyclosporins / pharmacology
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents*
  • Lactones / pharmacology
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Lymphocytes / drug effects*
  • Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Lymphoma
  • Macrolides*
  • Macrophages / drug effects
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mitogens / pharmacology
  • T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Cyclosporins
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Lactones
  • Macrolides
  • Mitogens
  • bafilomycin A