The effect of antithyroid drugs on B and T cell activity in vitro

R. Wilson; J. H. McKillop; M. Chopra; J. A. Thomson

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2265.1988.tb03670.x

The effect of antithyroid drugs on B and T cell activity in vitro

R. Wilson^*, J. H. McKillop, M. Chopra, J. A. Thomson

^*Corresponding author for this work

Glasgow Royal Infirmary

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

This study examined the abilities of methimazole, propylthiouracil (PTU) and propranolol to exert an immunosuppressive effect in vitro. Incubation of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) with propranolol showed the drug to have no effect on either B‐ or T‐cell activity. Methimazole or PTU at concentrations of ≥ 10⁻⁵M resulted in significantly lower amounts of IgG and IgM being released into the culture medium. Both drugs were also found to have a direct effect on T‐cell function as they caused the percentage of total and suppressor cells to increase towards normal levels. The three drugs were all found to have some free radical scavenging ability. These ranked PTU > methimazole > propranolol. These in‐vitro findings would suggest that both methimazole and PTU have some direct effect on the immune system. It would seem more likely however that these effects are mediated via interleukin 2 rather than by their ability to act as free radical scavengers.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	389-397
Number of pages	9
Journal	Clinical Endocrinology
Volume	28
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2265.1988.tb03670.x
Publication status	Published - 1 Apr 1988

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abstract = "This study examined the abilities of methimazole, propylthiouracil (PTU) and propranolol to exert an immunosuppressive effect in vitro. Incubation of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) with propranolol showed the drug to have no effect on either B‐ or T‐cell activity. Methimazole or PTU at concentrations of ≥ 10−5M resulted in significantly lower amounts of IgG and IgM being released into the culture medium. Both drugs were also found to have a direct effect on T‐cell function as they caused the percentage of total and suppressor cells to increase towards normal levels. The three drugs were all found to have some free radical scavenging ability. These ranked PTU > methimazole > propranolol. These in‐vitro findings would suggest that both methimazole and PTU have some direct effect on the immune system. It would seem more likely however that these effects are mediated via interleukin 2 rather than by their ability to act as free radical scavengers.",

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AU - Thomson, J. A.

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N2 - This study examined the abilities of methimazole, propylthiouracil (PTU) and propranolol to exert an immunosuppressive effect in vitro. Incubation of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) with propranolol showed the drug to have no effect on either B‐ or T‐cell activity. Methimazole or PTU at concentrations of ≥ 10−5M resulted in significantly lower amounts of IgG and IgM being released into the culture medium. Both drugs were also found to have a direct effect on T‐cell function as they caused the percentage of total and suppressor cells to increase towards normal levels. The three drugs were all found to have some free radical scavenging ability. These ranked PTU > methimazole > propranolol. These in‐vitro findings would suggest that both methimazole and PTU have some direct effect on the immune system. It would seem more likely however that these effects are mediated via interleukin 2 rather than by their ability to act as free radical scavengers.

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The effect of antithyroid drugs on B and T cell activity in vitro

Abstract

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