In vivo cocaine administration influences lymphokine production and humoral immune response.

The effect of in vivo cocaine administration on in vitro mitogen-induced lymphokine production was examined. Splenocyte cultures from BALB/c mice treated with an acute (1 mg/kg) or daily cocaine administration (1 mg/kg/day for 7 consecutive days) were less responsive to induction of IFN-gamma, IL-2 and IL-4 production by mitogen stimuli. We also evaluated the humoral immune response to both a T-dependent (HEL) and a T-independent antigen (rHBcAg). It was found that cocaine inhibits T-dependent antibody production only. This inhibition was greatest when cocaine was given during immunization. The results suggest that T-cell-mediated responses may be more affected by cocaine use/abuse.