In vitro effect of DDS on phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)--induced lymphocyte transformation

A study to find out the in vitro effect of diamino diphenyl sulphone (DDS) on phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-induced lymphocyte transformation was carried out in three phases using a wide range of DDS concentrations. Lymphocytes from healthy volunteers were investigated. Volunteers were divided into three groups to conduct the study in three phases. In each phase in addition to 0.02 ml of PHA, 4 different concentrations of DDS were added per 10(6) lymphocytes in tissue culture system. A statistically significant depression (P less than 0.05) in the per cent of blast cell formation induced by PHA was observed in the cultures with all the concentrations of DDS except with the lowest concentration (0.01 microgram) of DDS. While the depression observed in the first and the third phase was found to be dose dependent, no significant correlation was noted between the DDS concentration and depression in PHA induced blastogenesis in the second phase. The significance of these observations are discussed.