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Augmentation of human monocyte chemotactic response by levamisole

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Abstract

THE antihelminthic drug, levamisole ((−)-tetramisole) has been shown to possess potent immunostimulatory properties as demonstrated by its ability to enhance delayed hyper-sensitivity responses in aged individuals and in patients with cancer1,2. In addition, animals treated with (−)-tetramisole have heightened activity of their reticuloendothelial systems as measured by clearance of carbon particles and phagocytosis of sensitised sheep erythrocytes3,4. Although the mechanism of action of levamisole remains obscure, its pharmacological properties suggest that it may affect macro-phage function and as such could be a useful tool to probe the pathophysiology of this cell. This report describes the effect of (−)-tetramisole and its isomers on monocyte chemotaxis in vitro, and demonstrates a potential mechanism of action for these drugs as well as their usefulness for delineating mechanisms of leukocyte chemotactic responsiveness.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatic and Genetic Diseases, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, 27710

    MARILYN C. PIKE & RALPH SNYDERMAN

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  1. MARILYN C. PIKE
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  2. RALPH SNYDERMAN
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PIKE, M., SNYDERMAN, R. Augmentation of human monocyte chemotactic response by levamisole. Nature 261, 136–137 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1038/261136a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/261136a0

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