[Action of cephalosporins on T lymphocytes: the role of mediators].

The in vitro effect of various cephalosporins on T lymphocyte functions was studied. These antibiotics directly stimulated lymphokine production and significantly suppressed mitogen-stimulated lymphocyte transformation responses. Penicillin had no effect. Suppression of blastogenesis could be mediated through suppressor cell enhancement as indicated by: i) the significant suppressed lymphocyte transformation observed while using the dialyzed supernatant of cephalosporin-stimulated and cultured lymphocytes, ii) the enhanced blastogenesis, commonly ascribed to suppressor cell depletion, blunted by pre-incubation with cephalosporins, iii) the suppressed blastogenesis of allogenic responder cells in MLR by cephalosporin pre-incubated, mitomycin treated cells. An indirect effect through PgE2 release by macrophages cannot ruled out. The enhancement of suppressor activity by most of the cephalosporins might explain the smaller incidence of late hypersensitivity reactions observed with these antibiotics compared with penicillins.