Effect of D-penicillamine on lymphocyte function.

Lymphocyte stimulation by different stimulating agents was dose dependently inhibited by D-penicillamine (Metalcaptase-R). The influence of D-penicillamine on the lymphocyte metabolism after the stimulation was established, was time dependently reduced. After preincubation of lymphocytes with D-penicillamine the lymphocyte metabolism was dose dependently reduced. The inhibition of the mixed lymphocyte cultures was by far less extensive after preincubation of the stimulator cells than of the responder cells. HeLa-cells were dose dependently inhibited by D-penicillamine, too. From these results there is much to be said for the assumption that D-penicillamine acts at the level of the cell membrane. D-Penicillamine seems to affect "membrane dependent" metabolic processes rather than block antigenic or other immunologically relevant structures.