BIOMAT Database Logo BIOMAT Database Logo

Levamisole as an immunopotentiator for T cell deficiency. 1994

H N Taki, and S A Schwartz
Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Ohio, Toledo.

Levamisole, a widely used antihelminthic drug has been shown to restore cutaneous delayed hypersensitivity in anergic patients with cancer and to amplify the activation of T lymphocytes by in vitro mitogens. Levamisole has been approved for the treatment of colon cancer in combination with 5 Fluorouracil. Herein we report a case of a 5 1/2 y.o. male who presented with a fulminant, disseminated mycobacterial infection of his joints secondary to a deficiency in his cellular mediated immunity in association with chemotherapy for a T cell leukemia. The patient was treated with Levamisole resulting in restoration of his T cell functions and resolution of his mycobacterial infection.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007136 Immunoglobulins Multi-subunit proteins which function in IMMUNITY. They are produced by B LYMPHOCYTES from the IMMUNOGLOBULIN GENES. They are comprised of two heavy (IMMUNOGLOBULIN HEAVY CHAINS) and two light chains (IMMUNOGLOBULIN LIGHT CHAINS) with additional ancillary polypeptide chains depending on their isoforms. The variety of isoforms include monomeric or polymeric forms, and transmembrane forms (B-CELL ANTIGEN RECEPTORS) or secreted forms (ANTIBODIES). They are divided by the amino acid sequence of their heavy chains into five classes (IMMUNOGLOBULIN A; IMMUNOGLOBULIN D; IMMUNOGLOBULIN E; IMMUNOGLOBULIN G; IMMUNOGLOBULIN M) and various subclasses. Globulins, Immune,Immune Globulin,Immune Globulins,Immunoglobulin,Globulin, Immune
D007153 Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes Syndromes in which there is a deficiency or defect in the mechanisms of immunity, either cellular or humoral. Antibody Deficiency Syndrome,Deficiency Syndrome, Immunologic,Deficiency Syndromes, Antibody,Deficiency Syndromes, Immunologic,Immunologic Deficiency Syndrome,Immunological Deficiency Syndromes,Antibody Deficiency Syndromes,Deficiency Syndrome, Antibody,Deficiency Syndrome, Immunological,Deficiency Syndromes, Immunological,Immunological Deficiency Syndrome,Syndrome, Antibody Deficiency,Syndrome, Immunologic Deficiency,Syndrome, Immunological Deficiency,Syndromes, Antibody Deficiency,Syndromes, Immunologic Deficiency,Syndromes, Immunological Deficiency
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
D008213 Lymphocyte Activation Morphologic alteration of small B LYMPHOCYTES or T LYMPHOCYTES in culture into large blast-like cells able to synthesize DNA and RNA and to divide mitotically. It is induced by INTERLEUKINS; MITOGENS such as PHYTOHEMAGGLUTININS, and by specific ANTIGENS. It may also occur in vivo as in GRAFT REJECTION. Blast Transformation,Blastogenesis,Lymphoblast Transformation,Lymphocyte Stimulation,Lymphocyte Transformation,Transformation, Blast,Transformation, Lymphoblast,Transformation, Lymphocyte,Activation, Lymphocyte,Stimulation, Lymphocyte
D008297 Male Males
D009163 Mycobacterium bovis The bovine variety of the tubercle bacillus. It is called also Mycobacterium tuberculosis var. bovis. BCG,Calmette-Guerin Bacillus
D002675 Child, Preschool A child between the ages of 2 and 5. Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001170 Arthritis, Infectious Arthritis caused by BACTERIA; RICKETTSIA; MYCOPLASMA; VIRUSES; FUNGI; or PARASITES. Arthritis, Bacterial,Arthritis, Septic,Arthritis, Viral,Arthritides, Bacterial,Arthritis, Suppurative,Bacterial Arthritides,Bacterial Arthritis,Infectious Arthritis,Suppurative Arthritis,Septic Arthritis,Viral Arthritis
D014394 Tuberculosis, Osteoarticular Tuberculosis of the bones or joints. Bone Tuberculosis,Joint Tuberculosis,Bone Tuberculoses,Joint Tuberculoses,Osteoarticular Tuberculoses,Osteoarticular Tuberculosis,Tuberculoses, Bone,Tuberculoses, Joint,Tuberculoses, Osteoarticular,Tuberculosis, Bone,Tuberculosis, Joint

Related Publications

H N Taki, and S A Schwartz
Levamisole: a synthetic immunopotentiator under evaluation.
January 1975, Clinical bulletin,
H N Taki, and S A Schwartz
Isoprinosine as an immunopotentiator.
January 1979, Journal of immunopharmacology,
H N Taki, and S A Schwartz
Evaluation of levamisole, an immunopotentiator, in the treatment of lepromatous leprosy.
January 1986, Indian journal of leprosy,
H N Taki, and S A Schwartz
Levamisole as an anthelmintic for swine.
December 1972, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association,
H N Taki, and S A Schwartz
Differentiation and regulation of lymphocyte populations: evidence for immunopotentiator-induced T cell recruitment.
January 1979, Journal of immunopharmacology,
H N Taki, and S A Schwartz
Levamisole as an immunostimulant.
April 1980, The Veterinary record,
H N Taki, and S A Schwartz
Levamisole as an immunostimulant.
January 1980, Therapia Hungarica (English edition),
H N Taki, and S A Schwartz
[Levamisole as an immunostimulant].
July 1977, Orvosi hetilap,
H N Taki, and S A Schwartz
Treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus with the T-cell immunopotentiator levamisole: a follow-up report of 16 patients under treatment for a minimum period of four months.
October 1977, Annals of allergy,
H N Taki, and S A Schwartz
Recognition of the Qa-2k tumor antigen by T cell receptor gamma/delta of an immunopotentiator-induced tumoricidal T cell of mice.
January 1993, Cancer immunology, immunotherapy : CII,
Copied contents to your clipboard!