IN VITRO EFFECT OF THIOPHOSPHORIC ACID DERIVATIVES FROM CHELIDONIUM MAJUS L. ON NORMAL LYMPHOCYTE SUBPOPULATIONS.

B. ŚLESAK, J.W. NOWICKY and A. HARLOZIŃSKA

Department of Tumor Immunology, Medical University, Marcinkowskiego 1, 50-368 Wrocław, Poland

It is known that alkaloid derivatives from Chelidonium majus L. exert an immunostimulating effect in cancer patients.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the behaviour of lymphocyte subpopulations isolated from healthy donors after incubation with Chelidonium derivatives. The lymphocytes were isolated from peripheral blood of 12 healthy donors and then incubated in vitro for 30 min with Chelidonium derivatives (final concentration 500 μg/ml). Lymphocyte subpopulations were quantified by immunofluorescence tests using monclonal antibodies against total T-cells (Leu 1), T-helper (Leu 3a+3b) and T-suppressor (Leu 2a) cells (Becton-Dickinson, USA) before and after incubation with Chelidonium. The T-helper/T-suppressor ratio was also estimated.

After incubation with Chelidonium derivatives we have observed: (i) The percentage increase (on an average of 32 %) of cells expressing T-helper phenotype in 7 healthy donors, (ii) The percentage decrease (on an average of 26%) of lymphocytes with T-suppressor phenotype in 10 donors, (iii) The increase of T-helper/T-suppressor ratio in 9 lymphocyte donors. The results showed the possibility of direct modulating influence of alkaloid derivatives from Chelidonium majus L. on human lymphocytes. So far the mechanism of this phenomenon is unknown.