Biomaterial Database

Sulfasalazine treatment and lymphocyte function in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. 1988

D P Symmons, and M Salmon, and M Farr, and P A Bacon

Department of Rheumatology, Medical School, University of Birmingham, UK.

Sulfasalazine is now an established 2nd line agent in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) but its mode of action is unknown. Two separate studies have investigated the possibility that it works in RA by influencing lymphocyte function. After 12 weeks of treatment with sulfasalazine, elevated levels of circulating activated lymphocytes and abnormal ex vivo mitogen response to concanavalin A (Con-A) in 11 patients with RA reverted to normal. An in vitro study investigated the effect of sulfasalazine and its metabolites on mitogen response by healthy and RA peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Sulfapyridine (SP) and 5-hydroxy SP suppressed the response of RA PBMC to Con-A. Sulfasalazine, SP and N-acetyl SP suppressed the response of healthy PBMC to pokeweed mitogen. 5-aminosalicylic acid also affected mitogen response and cell viability, which may be relevant to actions of this metabolite within the gut.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007958	Leukocyte Count	The number of WHITE BLOOD CELLS per unit volume in venous BLOOD. A differential leukocyte count measures the relative numbers of the different types of white cells.	Blood Cell Count, White,Differential Leukocyte Count,Leukocyte Count, Differential,Leukocyte Number,White Blood Cell Count,Count, Differential Leukocyte,Count, Leukocyte,Counts, Differential Leukocyte,Counts, Leukocyte,Differential Leukocyte Counts,Leukocyte Counts,Leukocyte Counts, Differential,Leukocyte Numbers,Number, Leukocyte,Numbers, Leukocyte
D007963	Leukocytes, Mononuclear	Mature LYMPHOCYTES and MONOCYTES transported by the blood to the body's extravascular space. They are morphologically distinguishable from mature granulocytic leukocytes by their large, non-lobed nuclei and lack of coarse, heavily stained cytoplasmic granules.	Mononuclear Leukocyte,Mononuclear Leukocytes,PBMC Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells,Peripheral Blood Human Mononuclear Cells,Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell,Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells,Leukocyte, Mononuclear
D008214	Lymphocytes	White blood cells formed in the body's lymphoid tissue. The nucleus is round or ovoid with coarse, irregularly clumped chromatin while the cytoplasm is typically pale blue with azurophilic (if any) granules. Most lymphocytes can be classified as either T or B (with subpopulations of each), or NATURAL KILLER CELLS.	Lymphoid Cells,Cell, Lymphoid,Cells, Lymphoid,Lymphocyte,Lymphoid Cell
D008297	Male		Males
D002470	Cell Survival	The span of viability of a cell characterized by the capacity to perform certain functions such as metabolism, growth, reproduction, some form of responsiveness, and adaptability.	Cell Viability,Cell Viabilities,Survival, Cell,Viabilities, Cell,Viability, Cell
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000636	Aminosalicylic Acids	A group of 2-hydroxybenzoic acids that can be substituted by amino groups at any of the 3-, 4-, 5-, or 6-positions.	Acids, Aminosalicylic
D001172	Arthritis, Rheumatoid	A chronic systemic disease, primarily of the joints, marked by inflammatory changes in the synovial membranes and articular structures, widespread fibrinoid degeneration of the collagen fibers in mesenchymal tissues, and by atrophy and rarefaction of bony structures. Etiology is unknown, but autoimmune mechanisms have been implicated.	Rheumatoid Arthritis
D012460	Sulfasalazine	A drug that is used in the management of inflammatory bowel diseases. Its activity is generally considered to lie in its metabolic breakdown product, 5-aminosalicylic acid (see MESALAMINE) released in the colon. (From Martindale, The Extra Pharmacopoeia, 30th ed, p907)	Salicylazosulfapyridine,Asulfidine,Azulfadine,Azulfidine,Azulfidine EN,Colo-Pleon,Pleon,Pyralin EN,Salazopyrin,Salazosulfapyridine,Sulfasalazin medac,Sulfasalazin-Heyl,Sulfasalazine FNA,Sulphasalazine,Ucine,Ulcol,ratio-Sulfasalazine,Colo Pleon,Sulfasalazin Heyl,ratio Sulfasalazine