Evaluation of the acyclovir-induced modulation of the plaque-forming cell response of human peripheral blood lymphocytes

The increasing use of the antiviral agent acyclovir has focused the attention to the possible side-effects on cellular and humoral immunological processes. The drug has preclinically been tested extensively but most investigations have been carried-out in animal models. The influence of acyclovir on the proliferation and the plaque-forming capability of pokeweed mitogen (PWM) activated cultures of unfractionated and isolated subpopulations from human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL), was investigated. These parameters were monitored with the 3H-thymidine incorporation technique and a protein A plaque-forming cell assay. Acyclovir had little inhibitory effect at physiological concentration whereas a detrimental decrease was noted at higher concentrations.