Comparative Immunotoxicity of 2,2'-Dichlorodiethyl Sulfide and Cyclophosphamide:Evaluation of L1210 Tumor Cell Resistance, Cell-Mediated Immunity, and Humoral Immunity

摘要

The immunotoxicity of 2,2'-dichlorodiethyl sulfide (sulfur mustard, SM), onhumoral and cell-mediated immunity was compared with that of the nitrogen mustard 2-(bis(2-chloroethyl)amino)tetrahydro-2H-1,3,2-oxazophosphorine 2-oxide (cyclophosphamide, CP). SM and CP had similar effects on thymic and splenic weights, spleen cell number, and the formation of antibody producing cells to sheep red blood cells (sRBC) when examined 5 days after exposure, but differed in their effects on body weights. Although there were no differences in the delayed hypersensitivity response to keyhole limpet hemocyanin, CP and SM had different effects in the L1210 tumor cell allograft rejection assay. CP, but not SM, decreased the 28 day survival rate of allogeneic mice exposed to a sublethal L1210 tumor challenge. The differing effects on survival to the L1210 tumor challenge could not be attributed to a direct cytotoxic effect of SM on the L1210 tumor cells as SM did not increase the survival rate or median survival time of syngeneic mice exposed to a lethal L1210 tumor cell challenge. In summary, SM and CP had immunosuppressive effects in the humoral immune assay. Although neither compound suppressed the delayed hypersensitivity response, CP was found to suppress host resistance to L1210 tumor cells.