Pidotimod stimulates natural killer cell activity and inhibits thymocyte cell death.

Experiments were performed to analyze the possible effect of the immunomodulating agent Pidotimod (3-L-pyroglutamyl-L-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid) on mouse Natural Killer (NK) cell activity and glucocorticoid hormone(GCH)-induced thymocyte apoptosis. The results indicate that in vivo treatment with Pidotimod (200 mg/Kg ip for 5 days) causes a significant increase in NK activity and in vitro treatment produces a significant reduction of dexamethasone-induced thymocyte apoptosis. This inhibition appears to be dose-dependent and is also evident against TPA or Ca(++)ionophore-induced apoptosis.