[Immunomodulating effects of low doses of nitrogen mustard derivatives]

Chlormethine (Nitrogen mustard) in small doses proved to have immunopotentiating and anti-inflammatory activities. The influence of two nitrogen mustard derivatives : chlorambucil (1 or 10 micrograms/kg p.o.) and cyclophosphamide (0.03 or 0.3 mg/kg i.v.) as well as busulphan (0.5 or 5 micrograms/kg p.o.)--the agent of ++alkylating cytostatic group were investigated in rabbits. Whole blood count, the number of T and B lymphocytes, serum IgG level, phagocytic and microbicidal activities of neutrophils and the plasma level of free glucocorticoids were estimated. The drugs were used in the doses 10-100 times lower than cytostatic ones. Moreover, the ability of alkylating drugs to enhance or to suppress the changes evoked by lipopolysaccharide of E. coli in examined parameters was assessed. The results were compared with chlormethine data obtained previously. None of two nitrogen mustard derivatives (chlorambucil or cyclophosphamide) in the doses many times lower than cytostatic ones, exhibited an immunostimulating and adjuvant properties characteristic of chlormethine. Such properties did not demonstrate small doses of busulphan, another compound of alkylating drugs.