The effect of carbanilic acid derivatives with local anaesthetic action on concanavalin A-induced blastic transformation of lymphocytes.

We have examined the effect of six carbanilic acid derivatives (differing in the substitution of the aromatic ring, in the coupling chain or the basic moiety of the molecule) and trimecaine, i.e. agents with local anaesthetic action, on concanavalin A-induced blastic transformation of lymphocytes. We have found that these compounds differ in the ability to block blastic transformation and agglutination of lymphocytes when added to cell cultures at different concentrations simultaneously with Con A. At the minimal inhibitory concentrations, the derivatives exhibit a different degree of toxicity which, however, provides no explanation for the inhibitory effect of most of the compounds. The known effect of these compounds on the membranes together with observed inhibition of agglutination (a relatively early sign of activation), and their lower inhibitory activity, when added several hours after Con A, support the idea that they affect the early cell membrane-mediated processes during blastic transformation. In agreement with this finding is also the observed correlation between local anaesthetic activity and the ability of individual carbanilic acid derivatives to block the blastic transformation.