The immunoinhibitory and immunostimulatory effects of hydroxyanthra- and hydroxynaphthoquinone derivatives

The immunostimulatory and immunoinhibitory effects of 44 hydroxyanthra- and hydroxynaphthoquinone derivatives in tissue culture were investigated. In the test system used, the final effect, i.e. production of antibodies against sheep red blood cells is a result of cooperation between macrophages, T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes. It was found when testing selected 20 derivatives that methylation, acetylation or substitution of the hydroxy group by the amino group led to the loss of the inhibitory activity and, on the contrary, pronounced immunostimulatory effects could be observed in other derivatives. Naphthoquinones (juglone, lawsone) were more effective as immunoinhibitors than anthraquinones (alizarin, quinizarin) and their derivatives. In both groups of compounds glucosidation results in a substantial increase of the immunoinhibitory effect. The present work is a part of a more extensive study concerning modification of the molecules of various compounds and its relationship with the effect on immunological reactions.