In vitro effects of sodium diethyldithiocarbamate (Imuthiol) on human T lymphocytes

The effect of purified diethyldithiocarbamate, DTC (Imuthiol) on human T-cell dependent functions has been investigated. The mitogenic response of PHA-stimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) was significantly enhanced by Imuthiol at low drug concentration (10(-7) mg/ml). The same dose of Imuthiol also stimulated IL2 production by human PBL. This enhancement depended on the presence of adherent cells. These results could, in part, explained the immunostimulant activity of Imuthiol.