Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 25, 2026
Use of the Pyrimidine Analog, 5-Iodo-2′-Deoxyuridine (IdU) with Cell Cycle Markers to Establish Cell Cycle Phases in a Mass Cytometry Platform
Published on: October 22, 2021
Effects of 5-fluorouracil on human mitogen-activated peripheral blood lymphocytes from healthy individuals
Avi Eisenthal1, Karin Eytan, Eli Brazowski
1Department of Pathology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. eisenthal@tasmc.health.gov.il
Background:
The effect of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) on activated lymphocytes was explored.
Materials And Methods:
The in vitro effects of 5-FU on DNA synthesis in mitogen-activated lymphocytes from healthy volunteers were compared to those of the antimetabolites doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide and 6-mercaptopurine. These effects were assessed by alterations in the phenotypic profile and the percentage of cells in various phases of the cell cycle, as well as by the secretion of T helper (Th)1 and Th2 cytokines (ELISA).
Results:
Unlike 5-FU, the other antimetabolites failed to augment DNA synthesis in activated lymphocytes. The effect of 5-FU correlated with an increase in the percentage of cells in the S-phase and caused an increased in CD4+ cells, a decrease in CD56+ cells and a shift of the cytokine secretion pattern from Th2 to Th1.
Conclusion:
5-FU exhibited a unique effect on DNA synthesis in activated lymphocytes which was accompanied by selective effects on various lymphocyte subpopulations.
