Effect of DDS on phytohemagglutinin-induced lymphocyte transformation.

The influence of DDS on PHA-induced lymphocyte transformation was investigated in leukocyte cultures from two samples of healthy Caucasoid individuals. In one sample the sulfone-treated cultures differed from the controls in that they contained 0.4 mug/ml of other sample, the treated cultures contained DDS in concentrations of 4 mug/ml, 8 mug/ml and 16 mug/ml. The frequency of lymphocyte transformation induced by PHA was significantly reduced by DDS in all concentrations used. The data obtained are a strong indication that the plasma levels of dapsone among leprosy patients may contribute to the depression of the blastogenic capacity of their lymphocytes when stimulated by PHA.