Effect of levamisole (NSC-177023) on DNA synthesis by lymphocytes from immunosuppressed C57BL mice.

The effect of in vivo treatment of C57BL mice with BCNU and/or levamisole on the in vitro DNA synthetic capacity of their spleen cells was studied as a measure of cell-mediated immune function. BCNU treatment was suppressive to spleen cell DNA synthesis; conversely, treatment with levamisole was stimulatory. Levamisole treatment 5-8 days after BCNU treatment resulted in significant recovery of DNA synthetic capacity. Multiple doses of levamisole were not more effective than single doses. Allogeneic stimulation of BCNU-suppressed lymphocytes was not consistently increased by levamisole treatment.