Effects of some imidazoles on cellular immune responses--an experimental study

Effects of some imidazole compounds were studied on two animal models of cellular immune responses. Metronidazole in doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg and cimetidine 200mg/kg (ip), significantly suppressed the delayed type of hypersensitivity reaction, as evidenced by the footpad thickness method in mice. No significant alteration in the response could be observed however, in tinidazole treated groups. All the three drugs inhibited the migration of leucocytes in the presence of antigen in rats considerably. However, they did not produce any involution of spleen or reduction of adrenal weight indicating that their actions are not corticosteroid mediated. All the three drugs studied are histamine-like imidazole derivatives. H2 receptors are present on the surface of T-lymphocytes. They appear to modulate the cellular immune response by altering the function of the regulatory lymphocytes.