Effect of cyclosporin-A, antimalarial drug, on lymphocyte proliferation of Balb/c mice in vitro.

Cyclosporin-A(CsA) caused inhibition of lymphocyte proliferation at higher doses (5 and 10 micrograms/ml) compared to controls. When spleen cells were preincubated with high doses of CsA and washed, the normal lymphocyte response to stimulation with mitogen (concanavalin-A) and lymphokine (interleukin-2) was not affected. The results indicate that CsA's suppressive effect at higher doses, was a temporary one and potential use of CsA to control parasitic infections should be examined.