EFFECT OF INVITRO ACYCLOVIR TREATMENT ON SELECTED FUNCTIONS OF BLOOD-DERIVED MACROPHAGES

The effect of acyclovir (ACV) treatment on selected functions of human blood-derived macrophages was examined. ACV was not cytotoxic when ap plied in a wide range of concentrations. Only minor effects on macroph age functions were observed when cells were treated with therapeutic c oncentrations of ACV: phagocytosis and the production of interferon an d tumor necrosis factor were slightly enhanced, while the production o f lysozyme was reduced, in a dose-dependent manner. Interferon product ion was also reduced in the presence of high concentrations of ACV.