Biomaterial Database

Levamisole: evidence for activity on human haemopoietic progenitor cells. 1980

J S Senn, and C C Lai, and G B Price

Levamisole, which has immunostimulant activity, is now being used to treat some forms of cancer. We report that the drug enhances granulocyte colony formation. The mechanism of action appears to be partly through modulation of molecules on cell membranes. The molecular content of colony-stimulating activity (CSA) released into leucocyte-conditioned medium by cells of leukaemic and some preleukaemic patients can be quantitatively altered by levamisole, both in vitro and in vivo, but the CSA produced is qualitatively similar to that released by normal cells. The demonstrated levamisole enhancement of colony formation, and altered CSA types detected in leucocyte-conditioned medium, makes this drug a promising candidate for treatment of selected leukaemic states and in preleukaemia.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007938	Leukemia	A progressive, malignant disease of the blood-forming organs, characterized by distorted proliferation and development of leukocytes and their precursors in the blood and bone marrow. Leukemias were originally termed acute or chronic based on life expectancy but now are classified according to cellular maturity. Acute leukemias consist of predominately immature cells; chronic leukemias are composed of more mature cells. (From The Merck Manual, 2006)	Leucocythaemia,Leucocythemia,Leucocythaemias,Leucocythemias,Leukemias
D007978	Levamisole	An antihelminthic drug that has been tried experimentally in rheumatic disorders where it apparently restores the immune response by increasing macrophage chemotaxis and T-lymphocyte function. Paradoxically, this immune enhancement appears to be beneficial in rheumatoid arthritis where dermatitis, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia, and nausea and vomiting have been reported as side effects. (From Smith and Reynard, Textbook of Pharmacology, 1991, p435-6)	L-Tetramisole,Levotetramisole,Decaris,Dekaris,Levamisole Hydrochloride,Solaskil,Hydrochloride, Levamisole
D008297	Male		Males
D011289	Preleukemia	Conditions in which the abnormalities in the peripheral blood or bone marrow represent the early manifestations of acute leukemia, but in which the changes are not of sufficient magnitude or specificity to permit a diagnosis of acute leukemia by the usual clinical criteria.	Preleukemias
D001853	Bone Marrow	The soft tissue filling the cavities of bones. Bone marrow exists in two types, yellow and red. Yellow marrow is found in the large cavities of large bones and consists mostly of fat cells and a few primitive blood cells. Red marrow is a hematopoietic tissue and is the site of production of erythrocytes and granular leukocytes. Bone marrow is made up of a framework of connective tissue containing branching fibers with the frame being filled with marrow cells.	Marrow,Red Marrow,Yellow Marrow,Marrow, Bone,Marrow, Red,Marrow, Yellow
D002478	Cells, Cultured	Cells propagated in vitro in special media conducive to their growth. Cultured cells are used to study developmental, morphologic, metabolic, physiologic, and genetic processes, among others.	Cultured Cells,Cell, Cultured,Cultured Cell
D003114	Colony-Forming Units Assay	A cytologic technique for measuring the functional capacity of stem cells by assaying their activity.	Clonogenic Cell Assay,Stem Cell Assay,Clonogenic Cell Assays,Colony Forming Units Assays,Colony-Forming Units Assays,Stem Cell Assays,Assay, Clonogenic Cell,Assay, Colony-Forming Units,Assay, Stem Cell,Assays, Clonogenic Cell,Assays, Colony-Forming Units,Assays, Stem Cell,Colony Forming Units Assay
D003470	Culture Media	Any liquid or solid preparation made specifically for the growth, storage, or transport of microorganisms or other types of cells. The variety of media that exist allow for the culturing of specific microorganisms and cell types, such as differential media, selective media, test media, and defined media. Solid media consist of liquid media that have been solidified with an agent such as AGAR or GELATIN.	Media, Culture
D006098	Granulocytes	Leukocytes with abundant granules in the cytoplasm. They are divided into three groups according to the staining properties of the granules: neutrophilic, eosinophilic, and basophilic. Mature granulocytes are the NEUTROPHILS; EOSINOPHILS; and BASOPHILS.	Granulocyte
D006412	Hematopoietic Stem Cells	Progenitor cells from which all blood cells derived. They are found primarily in the bone marrow and also in small numbers in the peripheral blood.	Colony-Forming Units, Hematopoietic,Progenitor Cells, Hematopoietic,Stem Cells, Hematopoietic,Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells,Cell, Hematopoietic Progenitor,Cell, Hematopoietic Stem,Cells, Hematopoietic Progenitor,Cells, Hematopoietic Stem,Colony Forming Units, Hematopoietic,Colony-Forming Unit, Hematopoietic,Hematopoietic Colony-Forming Unit,Hematopoietic Colony-Forming Units,Hematopoietic Progenitor Cell,Hematopoietic Stem Cell,Progenitor Cell, Hematopoietic,Stem Cell, Hematopoietic,Unit, Hematopoietic Colony-Forming,Units, Hematopoietic Colony-Forming