In vivo and in vitro effects of Sizofiran on the human neutrophils and the serum opsonic activity.
In this paper, we examine the effects of SPG, which is a well known BRM, both in vivo and in vitro on the neutrophilic ROS production and the serum opsonic activity by the chemiluminescence technique using luminol as a probe. To investigate the in vivo effects, SPG was administered to 12 healthy male volunteers and two phases of enhancement of the neutrophilic ROS production and the serum opsonic activity was observed. In vitro, the addition of SPG showed a dose-dependent suppression. To investigate the mechanisms in these contradictory effects of SPG, supernatants of a lymphocytes culture medium in the presence of SPG with or without mitogen were added to the neutrophils. The addition of supernatants at a lower concentration of SPG (0.01 mg/ml) with mitogens showed significant preventive effects on the neutrophilic ROS production for the duration of incubation. This suggests that cytokines derived from lymphocytes may contribute to the in vivo effects of SPG. SPG can play an important role in the host's defense against microbe infections by enhancing it's effect on non-specific immunity when administered in vivo.