20-hydroxyecdysone as a human lymphocyte and neutrophil modulator: In vitro evaluation

20-hydroxyecdysone (1 mu M) was found to activate in vitro T-cell CD2 prese ntation, which is suppressed both in secondary immunodeficient persons and pharmacologically by increasing intracellular cAMP levels. The compound was found to act like a synthetic psycho-immunomodulator 1-oxy-4-oxoadamantane (1 mu M) and to exceed the effects of the thymomimetic agent levamisol(1 m u M). In addition, 20-hydroxyecdysone (1 mu M) was also revealed to modulat e the fluoride-stimulated respiratory burst of human neutrophils in the sam e manner as water soluble antioxidants. Arch. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.