The bilateral effect of theophylline on immune response mechanisms

Abstract

The effect of sodium-8-chlorotheophyllinate (S8CT) on transplantation immunity and on PHA-reactivity of thymocytes in transformation experiments was studied. S8CT rather stimulated first graft reaction whereas 'second set' reaction is clearly inhibited. Analogous experiments with the adoptive transfer of transplantation immunity showed comparable results. Thymocytes of S8CT treated and once grafted mice had no significant effect compared with cells from non-treated animals. In contrast, an inhibition was seen if thymocytes of twice grafted and S8CT treated mice were taken. The PHA-P reactivity of thymocytes was clearly enhanced if cell donors were grafted once and treated with S8CT. Here again, the PHA-P reactivity was inhibited if the cell donors were grafted twice and treated during second transplantation. Comparable results were obtained, when instead of transplantation animals were injected with PHA.