M. Neidhart, BROMOCRIPTINE HAS LITTLE DIRECT EFFECT ON MURINE LYMPHOCYTES, THE IMMUNOMODULATORY EFFECT BEING MEDIATED BY THE SUPPRESSION OF PROLACTIN SECRETION, Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy, 51(3), 1997, pp. 118-125
Citations number
30
Categorie Soggetti
Pharmacology & Pharmacy","Medicine, Research & Experimental
We investigated whether the immunosuppressive effect of bromocriptine
in mice is due to its direct effect on lymphocyte functions or through
inhibition of prolactin secretion. Incubation of mouse Babl/c splenic
lymphocytes. with bromocriptine in vitro at a concentration of around
0.5 to 1 mu g/mL causes an inhibition of antigen- or mitogen-induced
proliferation. However, bromocriptine in vitro has no effect on lympho
kine production (gamma-interferon and interleukin-2), expression of in
terleukin-2 receptor or lymphocyte cytotoxic function. Furthermore, tr
eatment of Babl/c mice with bromocriptine inhibits the mixed lymphocyt
e reaction and mitogen stimulation, as well as primary and secondary a
ntibody production. However, eve postulated that the inhibition of ex
vivo functional activity could not account for a direct cytostatic or
cytotoxic effect of bromocriptine. This is supported by the in vitro d
ata, which shows that bromocriptine has no effect on proliferating P-8
15 mastocytoma tumor cells. Finally, (NZB/NZW) Fl mice spontaneously d
evelop a disease similar to systemic lupus erythematosus. In both non-
autoimmune Babl/c mice and (NZB/NZW) Fl lupus-mice, the serum level of
bromocriptine achieved by a treatment with 5 mg/kg on average is 2-6
ng/mL. On tile one hand, this dose is sufficient to significantly alte
r the ex vivo functional tests in Babl/c mice and to show a beneficial
effect in the in vivo model of female lupus-mice. On the other hand,
the lowest concentration which could have an inhibitory effect an anti
gen- and mitogen-induced proliferation in vitro is 200 ng/mL, ie 50 ti
mes more than that required in vivo to obtain significant reductions o
f proteinurea, glomerular membrane proliferation and immune deposits i
n lupus-mice. Thr serum levels of gamma-interferon and interleukin-2,
are reduced in lupus-mice when compared with Babl/c mice. The treatmen
t with bromocriptine does not influence these parameters. In conclusio
n, our data demonstrate that the major immunosuppressive activity of b
romocriptine is probably dependent on its hypoprolactinemic effect.