Tsang K Y, Pan J F, Swanger D L, Fudenberg H H
Int J Immunopharmacol. 1985;7(2):199-206. doi: 10.1016/0192-0561(85)90027-x.
The in vitro effects of isoprinosine (ISO) on the immune responses of aging humans were investigated. 64 healthy elderly humans (65 yr of age or over) were included in this study. Four immune parameters were measured, namely, Concanavalin A (ConA)-induced lymphocyte proliferation, natural killer cell (NK) activity, neutrophil chemotaxis, and interleukin-2 (IL-2) production. The ConA-induced lymphocyte proliferation was depressed in 55 of the 64 individuals (85.9%%), while the NK activity was depressed in 41 of the 64 individuals (64%). Neutrophil chemotaxis was depressed in 52 of the 64 individuals (81.1%) and IL-2 production was depressed in 35 of the 64 individuals (54.6%). In the presence of ISO, ConA-induced lymphocyte proliferation, NK activity, neutrophil chemotaxis, and IL-2 production were restored to normal or near normal levels in 50 of the 55 (90.0%), 35 of the 41 (85.3%), 44 of the 52 (84.6%), and 25 of the 35 (71.4%) aging humans, respectively. Our results indicate that ISO acts as an immune potentiator in these in vitro immune assays.