Studies on effects of forphenicinol on immune responses.

The oral administration of forphenicinol, S-2-(3-hydroxy-4-hydroxymethylphenyl)glycine which was synthesized during the study of derivatives and analogs of forphenicine, augmented delayed-type hypersensitivity to sheep red blood cells and oxazolone in mice. The treatment with forphenicinol restored DTH in mice immuno-suppressed by cyclophosphamide to normal response. Forphenicinol neither augmented antibody-formation nor stimulated proliferation of lymphocytes in the presence or absence of lectins. Phagocytosis by peritoneal macrophages was enhanced by forphenicinol in vivo and in vitro. Forphenicinol was effective in increasing the production of CFU-C in the presence of colony stimulating factor and partially prevented the reduction of leucocyte counts caused by mitomycin C.