Abstract
Summary
Mitogen-stimulated normal human lymphocytes were exposed to d-penicillamine (d-pen) at various concentrations and different time intervals. d-Pen inhibited-lymphocyte response to mitogen stimulation and was also inhibitory to the mixed lymphocyte reaction. The inhibition was found to be partial and dose dependent. The inhibition of lymphocyte transformation was not due to nonspecific inhibition of protein, RNA, or DNA synthesis. The drug was inhibitory only when it was present during the first 20 hr of culture. The inhibitory effect seemed to be related to some process prior to the initiation of the replicative phase. It is suggested that d-pen may block the signal for the initiation of DNA replication, or partially inhibit the activation of enzymes required for the above process.
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