Evaluation of the potential immunotoxicity of 3-monochloro-1,2-propanediol in Balb/c mice. I. Effect on antibody forming cell, mitogen-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation, splenic subset, and natural killer cell activity

3-Monochloro-1,2-propanediol (MCPD) is a well-known by-product of acid-hydrolyzed soy sauce during its manufacturing process. MCPD has been reported genotoxic in vitro, and reproductive toxicity and carcinogenicity in rats. However, no previous studies have investigated MCPD-induced alterations in the immune system. In the present study, MCPD was administered by gavage for 14 days at 0, 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg per day to female Balb/c mice. The antibody-mediated immune response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) was assessed using the antibody-forming cell (AFC) assay, and splenic cell phenotypes were quantified by flow cytometry. Hematological and histopathological changes were assessed. Mitogen-stimulated spleen lymphocyte proliferation and natural killer (NK) cell activity were evaluated. The T-lymphocyte blastogenesis by concanavalin A (Con A) or anti-CD3 and B-lymphocyte blastogenesis by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were not significantly changed. There were no significant changes in the hematological and histopathological findings of MCPD-treated mice. However, the significant decrease in thymus weight was observed in 100 mg dose group, even though that did not change body weight gain. The cellularities of spleen and thymus were significantly reduced in high-dose group. Exposure to high dose of MCPD decreased the AFC response to SRBC in mice. There was a significant decrease in NK cell activity of mice treated with high dose of MCPD. These results indicate that MCPD could modulate the immune function in Balb/c mice.     

三肽化合物酪丝亮肽(YSL)对腹水型肝癌H_(22)小鼠免疫调节作用实验研究

目的观察三肽化合物酪丝亮肽(tyroserleutide,YSL)对腹水型肝癌H22小鼠的抗肿瘤作用,观察YSL对荷瘤小鼠T淋巴细胞转化及NK细胞杀伤活性的影响。方法建立腹水型肝癌H22小鼠动物模型,观察YSL对腹水型肝癌H22小鼠生存时间的影响;以MTT法检测YSL对荷瘤小鼠T淋巴细胞转化及NK细胞杀伤活性的影响。结果YSL能够明显延长腹水型肝癌H22小鼠生存时间;YSL在5μg.kg-1和50μg.kg-1时可以促进腹水型肝癌H22小鼠T淋巴细胞的转化;YSL在0.5、5和50μg.kg-1时增强荷瘤小鼠NK细胞杀伤活性。结论YSL可以延长腹水型肝癌H22小鼠的生存时间;促进荷瘤鼠的T淋巴细胞转化及NK细胞杀伤活性。     

Antitumor cells found in tumor-bearing mice given ubenimex

Antitumor effector cells in spleens of tumor-bearing mice given ubenimex were investigated. The administration of ubenimex, starting 7 days after the tumor inoculation, was effective in inhibiting growth of IMC carcinoma. Spleen cells taken from these mice showed a marked suppression of the tumor growth by the WINN assay. The antitumor activity of spleen cells was reduced by treatment to remove T cells or NK cells, whereas spleen cell preparations enriched for T cells showed the strongest antitumor activity. Moreover, NK activity against YAC-1 cells was found in the spleen. These results indicate that the administration of ubenimex to IMC carcinoma-bearing mice generates cytotoxic T cells and NK cells in the spleen. The antitumor effect of ubenimex was not observed in X-ray-irradiated and in anti-asialo GM1 serum-treated mice.     

Effects of chlordimeform and its metabolite 4-chloro-o-toluidine on rat splenic T, B and tumoricidal effector cells

The pesticide chlordimeform (CDF) and its metabolite 4-chloro-o-toluidine (4CT) are documented animal carcinogens. Various immunological and toxicological parameters were examined following CDF or 4CT exposure in Sprague-Dawley rats: spleen wt./body wt. ratio; spleen cells/mg; splenocyte viability; T and B cell mitogenesis; natural killer (NK) and natural cytotoxic (NC) cell activity. In this study CDF produced a dose-dependent inhibition of NK activity (E:T ratio 100:1). Significant decreases in NK activity also occurred at all CDF doses, while the spleen wt./body wt. ratio was reduced only by the highest CDF dose. The compound 4CT produced no significant effects on NK or NC activity. No changes were observed in spleen cells/mg, splenocyte viability, or in T and B cell proliferation mediated by concanavalin A (Con-A) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), respectively, with either CDF or 4CT treatment. These results have demonstrated that CDF exposure has a selective effect on splenic functionally distinct tumoricidal effector cell populations, and that this effect is evident at 1 mg/kg, a dose not inconsistent with the maximum exposure levels in workers.     

Immunocompetence status as related to growth progression of mouse MOPC-315 plasmacytoma

The immunocompetence status of mice bearing MOPC-315 plasmacytoma was determined at various days after tumor inoculation. Changes in T and B-cell functions appeared gradually. The allogeneic response of spleen cells from BALB/c tumor-bearing mice against C57BL spleen cells was impaired from the 4th day after the tumor inoculation (nonpalpable tumor stage). The primary antibody response in vitro against SRBC was depressed at 18 days, and the mitogenic response of splenic cells to PHA and to LPS was depressed at 25 days after the tumor inoculation. T cells taken from day 18 tumor-bearing mice partially suppressed the MLR response of normal splenocytes. Mice bearing large MOPC-315 tumors responded less to SRBC immunization than normal, noninoculated mice. The relative percentage of Lyt 1, Lyt 2 and L3T4 T-cell subsets decreased starting from the 11th day after tumor inoculation.     

Role of corticosterone in ethyl carbamate-induced immunosuppression in female BALB/c mice

We have recently demonstrated that the antibody response to the T-cell-dependent antigen, sheep red blood cells (SRBCs), was suppressed by ethyl carbamate in female BALB/c mice. At the same doses, ethyl carbamate decreased in the numbers of splenic macrophages, B cells, total T cells, CD4(+) T cells and CD8(+) T cells. In addition, the serum level of corticosterone was increased dose-dependently. To investigate the possible role of corticosterone in ethyl carbamate-induced immunosuppression, the antibody response to SRBCs and the subpopulation changes of splenocytes and thymocytes were determined in naive, sham-operated and adrenalectomized (ADX) female BALB/c mice. When the mice were treated intraperitoneally with 400 mg/kg ethyl carbamate, the antibody response was significantly suppressed by ethyl carbamate in naive and sham-operated mice in accompanying the decrease in spleen and thymus weights and/or the increase in the level of serum corticosterone. Meanwhile, the antibody response was not suppressed by ethyl carbamate in the ADX mice. The splenic numbers of total cells, macrophages, B and T cells, and CD4(+) cells were decreased by ethyl carbamate in naive and sham-operated mice. Meanwhile, each cell number was comparable with control in the ADX mice. The flow cytometric analyses on thymocytes did not show obvious differences as seen in the spleen. Finally, when the ADX mice were treated intraperitoneally with 25 mg/kg corticosterone, the antibody response was significantly suppressed. Taken together, our present results suggested that corticosterone might be, at least partially, responsible for ethyl carbamate-induced immunosuppression in female BALB/c mice.     

Styrene Inhalation and Immune Function in Mice

Abstract

Short-term inhalation studies were conducted to evaluate the potential effects of styrene on the immune system. Female B6C3F1 mice were exposed by inhalation to 0, 125, 250, or 500 ppm styrene, 6 h/day for 14 consecutive days. Thymus and spleen weights in styrene-exposed mice were decreased in the high-dose animals, and a marked decrease in spleen cellularity occurred in all chemically treated groups. Cytometric analysis of spleen cells revealed a slight increase in the percentage of B cells and a decrease in the absolute number of CD4′ cells. This latter change was responsible for a shift in the CD4/CD8 ratio observed in the high dose group. Corresponding increases in the prolifer-ative response to the B-lymphocyte mitogen lipopolysaccharide as well as an increase in the primary antibody response to sheep erythrocytes were observed. Cell-mediated immunity was unaffected by styrene inhalation as demonstrated by normal cytotoxic T-lympho-cyte and mixed leukocyte responses. Changes in spleen cellularity were not reflected at the level of the stem cell, as bone marrow cellularity was unaffected by styrene treatment. Styrene slightly suppressed spleen natural killer (NK) cell activity without affecting lung NK cell activity. These studies indicate that the primary immune effect of styrene is splenic hypocellularity. Although an imbalance in the B and T spleen lymphocyte sub-populations and a decrease in spleen NK cell activity were observed, the magnitudes of these effects were minimal.     

Augmentation of humoral and cell mediated immune responses by Thujone

Thujone, a naturally occurring monoterpene, was found to enhance the total WBC count, bone marrow cellularity, number of α-esterase positive cells, number of plaque forming cells in spleen and circulating antibody titer in Balb/c mice (1 mg/kg body weight, intraperitoneally for 5 days). Thujone treatment enhanced proliferation of splenocytes and thymocytes, both in the presence and absence of specific mitogens. Administration of Thujone was found to stimulate the cell-mediated immunological response in normal and tumor bearing Balb/c mice. A significant enhancement in natural killer (NK) cell mediated cytotoxicity, antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and antibody-dependent complement mediated cytotoxicity (ACC) in both normal as well as tumor-bearing animals was observed after the administration of Thujone. Production of cytokines such as IL-2 and IFN-γ was significantly enhanced by the administration of Thujone. The stimulatory effect of Thujone on cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) generation was determined by Winn's neutralization assay using CTL sensitive EL4 thymoma cells. Thujone treatment showed a significant increase in CTL production in both the in vivo and in vitro models, as indicated by a significant increase in the life span of tumor bearing animals. All these results indicate that administration of Thujone could enhance the immune response of mice. There was a significant reduction in solid tumor development, mediated by the presence of alert immune responses during Thujone administration.     

Induction of cytolytic activity and interferon-gamma production in murine natural killer cells by polymyxins B and E

Natural killer (NK) cells are the primary effector cells of the innate immune system and have well-established roles in tumor rejection and resistance to viruses, bacteria and certain parasites. There is a need for more specific immune modulators of NK cell activity that lack the wide-ranging side effects of NK cell-stimulatory interleukins. The polycationic antibiotic polymyxin B (PMB) has been shown to have a unique ability to enhance activities of some immune cells, independent of its antibiotic properties. Here we report that both PMB and its analog polymyxin E (PME) markedly enhanced the activity of NK cells enriched from the murine spleen. Maximal activation of NK cell activity was obtained after 24 h of incubation with PMB at a dose of 300 mug/ml. PMB nonapeptide, one of the two PMB domains, and PME methanesulfonate, the negatively charged derivative of PME, had little effect on NK cell activity. PMB induced interferon (IFN)-gamma and tumor necrosis factor-alpha production in NK cells. Proliferation of NK cells in vitro was significantly stimulated by being incubated with PMB. Administration of PMB to mice for 7 consecutive days stimulated splenic NK cell activity and increased NK cell populations in the spleen. These results suggest that the polycationic antibiotics PMB and PME may up-regulate innate and adaptive immune responses by induction of NK cell activity and IFN-gamma production.     

Immunotoxicity of N,N-diethylaniline in mice: effect on natural killer activity, cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity, lymphocyte proliferation response and cellular components of the spleen

We previously found that N,N-diethylaniline increased the frequency of sister chromatid exchange (SCE) of human lymphocytes to about five times that of the control value, and was as toxic as cyclophosphamide used as a positive control for SCE. To explore whether N,N-diethylaniline affects the function of lymphocytes, we evaluated its immunotoxicity using CBA/N mice. The mice were divided into four groups and received 0, 100, 200, or 400 mg/kg body weight of N,N-diethylaniline by subcutaneous injection. The following items were investigated on days 3 and 7 after injection: body weight, weight of spleen, number of splenocytes, natural killer (NK) and cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activities, and concanavalin A (Con A)- and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation using splenocytes. The following splenocyte phenotypes were also quantified by flow cytometry: (1) B cells; (2) total T cells; (3) CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells; (4) NK; (5) macrophages and (6) nucleated erythrocytes. The splenic NK and CTL activities in exposed groups significantly decreased compared to the control in a dose-dependent manner and lymphocytes from the 200 and 400 mg/kg groups showed significantly higher spontaneous proliferation. The weight of the spleen and number of splenocytes were significantly higher in exposed groups than in the control. N,N-Diethylaniline also increased the percentages of macrophages, nucleated erythrocytes and B cells in the spleen. On the other hand, N,N-diethylaniline did not affect LPS-stimulated B cell and Con A-stimulated T cell proliferation, or the percentages of NK, total T, and CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells in the spleen or the body weight of mice. The above findings indicated that N,N-diethylaniline selectively inhibited splenic NK and CTL activity and this inhibition was due to decreased NK and CTL functions, but not due to changes in the numbers of splenic NK and T cells.     

Comparative immunotoxicity evaluation of amphotericin B and ABELCET, an amphotericin B lipid complex (ABLC)

ABELCET, an amphotericin B lipid complex formulation (ABLC) and an aqueous, non-lipid-containing formulation with sodium deoxycholate (AmBd), were evaluated for their potential to induce immunotoxicity in B6C3F1 female mice. ABLC was administered intravenously at doses of 1, 3, and 10 mg/kg daily for 28 days, while AmBd at 1 mg/kg was administered by the same route and duration. The effect of ABLC and AmBd on clinical signs, body weight, and spleen weight was determined. Peritoneal macrophage function was measured by phagocytosis of 51Cr-labeled chicken red blood cells and generation of hydrogen peroxide during respiratory burst. The ability of natural killer cells to lyse radiolabeled tumor target cells was evaluated in a short-term chromium-release assay. The ability of splenic T and B cells to undergo blastogenesis and of splenic T cells to recognize alloantigens present on foreign cells was assessed in a splenic lymphocyte assay and the ability of mice to generate antibody-forming cells following immunization with sheep red blood cells was measured. Neither ABLC nor AmBd affected the metabolic or functional activity of murine phagocytic cells. These agents also did not cause any biologically significant or dose-related changes in B- or T-cell responses to mitogens, T-cell responses to allogeneic cells in the mixed lymphocyte culture assay, or natural killer cell function. The ability to generate a primary antibody response to a T cell-dependent antigen was also unimpaired. Based on the results of this study, it was concluded that neither ABLC at dose up to 10 mg/kg nor AmBd at dose up to 1.0 mg/kg produce biologically significant immunologic changes in B6C3F1 mice.     

3-Methylindole-induced splenotoxicity: functional analysis of immune parameters and lymphocyte phenotyping by flow cytometry.

In this laboratory, 3-methylindole (3-MI), a pneumotoxic metabolite of L-tryptophan that forms in the digestive tract of humans and ruminants, has been demonstrated to be toxic to rat and mouse splenic cells both in vitro and in vivo. The present studies examine whether the reduction in nucleated splenic cells is associated with alterations in: (1) immune functioning (e.g., B and T cell mitogenic responses to lectins), (2) natural resistance (e.g., natural killer (NK) activity and cytokine release from macrophages (MPs)), or (3) the relative percentages of B and T cells in the remaining cells as determined by flow cytometric phenotyping. A dose-dependent decrease in splenic weight (24-46%) and nucleated cell numbers (54-73%) was observed 24 hr after intraperitoneal (ip) administration of 100-300 mg/kg 3-MI to B6C3F1 mice. At a dose of 300 mg/kg, the blastogenic response of splenic lymphocytes to 1 microgram/ml phytohemagglutinin, a T cell mitogen, was reduced 37 and 64%, and NK activity was reduced 20 and 60%, in rats and mice, respectively. Following exposure to 400 mg/kg 3-MI, interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor production by lipopolysaccharide-stimulated rat splenic MPs was decreased 58 and 38%, respectively. Despite the reduction in total nucleated cell number in 3-MI-treated mice, the percentages of splenic B and T cells remained the same. These findings indicate that, in addition to its toxicity to splenic cells, 3-MI can significantly impair the functioning of the remaining viable cells. The potential importance of these functional changes for alterations in host resistance in rodents exposed to 3-MI or other alkylindoles is unknown.     

绞股蓝总皂甙对Lewis肺癌荷瘤小鼠肿瘤生长及免疫功能的影响

观察绞股蓝总皂甙对Ｌｅｗｉｓ肺癌荷瘤小鼠肿瘤生长,脾淋巴细胞数及ＮＫ活性的影响。方法整体动物的抑瘤试验,脾淋巴细胞计数及ＮＫ活性测定。结果：ＧＰｓ对荷瘤小鼠Ｌｅｗｉｓ肺癌细胞具有明显的抑制作用,在剂量１０、２０、４０ｍｇ／ｋｇ腹腔注射给药条件下,其抑瘤率分别为（３０．７±１．２）％,（５１．５±２．５）％（Ｐ〈０．０１）。同时,ＧＰｓｉｐ给药后荷瘤小鼠脾淋巴细胞总数明显增加,外周血淋巴细胞ＮＫ活性     

Acid-switchable nanoparticles induce self-adaptive aggregation for enhancing antitumor immunity of natural killer cells

Deficiency of natural killer (NK) cells shows a significant impact on tumor progression and failure of immunotherapy. It is highly desirable to boost NK cell immunity by upregulating active receptors and relieving the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Unfortunately, mobilization of NK cells is hampered by poor accumulation and short retention of drugs in tumors, thus declining antitumor efficiency. Herein, we develop an acid-switchable nanoparticle with self-adaptive aggregation property for co-delivering galunisertib and interleukin 15 (IL-15). The nanoparticles induce morphology switch by a decomposition-metal coordination cascade reaction, which provides a new methodology to trigger aggregation. It shows self-adaptive size-enlargement upon acidity, thus improving drug retention in tumor to over 120 h. The diameter of agglomerates is increased and drug release is effectively promoted following reduced pH values. The nanoparticles activate both NK cell and CD8⁺ T cell immunity in vivo. It significantly suppresses CT26 tumor in immune-deficient BALB/c mice, and the efficiency is further improved in immunocompetent mice, indicating that the nanoparticles can not only boost innate NK cell immunity but also adaptive T cell immunity. The approach reported here provides an innovative strategy to improve drug retention in tumors, which will enhance cancer immunotherapy by boosting NK cells.     

Augmentation of humoral and cell mediated immune responses by Thujone

Thujone, a naturally occurring monoterpene, was found to enhance the total WBC count, bone marrow cellularity, number of α-esterase positive cells, number of plaque forming cells in spleen and circulating antibody titer in Balb/c mice (1 mg/kg body weight, intraperitoneally for 5 days). Thujone treatment enhanced proliferation of splenocytes and thymocytes, both in the presence and absence of specific mitogens. Administration of Thujone was found to stimulate the cell-mediated immunological response in normal and tumor bearing Balb/c mice. A significant enhancement in natural killer (NK) cell mediated cytotoxicity, antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and antibody-dependent complement mediated cytotoxicity (ACC) in both normal as well as tumor-bearing animals was observed after the administration of Thujone. Production of cytokines such as IL-2 and IFN-γ was significantly enhanced by the administration of Thujone. The stimulatory effect of Thujone on cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) generation was determined by Winn's neutralization assay using CTL sensitive EL4 thymoma cells. Thujone treatment showed a significant increase in CTL production in both the in vivo and in vitro models, as indicated by a significant increase in the life span of tumor bearing animals. All these results indicate that administration of Thujone could enhance the immune response of mice. There was a significant reduction in solid tumor development, mediated by the presence of alert immune responses during Thujone administration.     

Genistein modulates splenic natural killer cell activity,antibody-forming cell response,and phenotypic marker expression in F(0) and F(1) generations of Sprague-Dawley rats

The potential effects of the phytoestrogen genistein (GEN) on the immune system were evaluated in both F(0) (dams) and F(1) generations of Sprague-Dawley rats exposed to a soy-free diet containing low (L: 25 ppm), middle (M: 250 ppm), and high (H: 1250 ppm) levels of GEN. In dams, exposure to GEN from Gestation Day 7 to Postpartum Day 51 (totally 65 days) produced a significant increase in NK cell activity (M and H), while a decrease in the percentage of helper T cells (H). In F(1) males, exposure to GEN gestationally, lactationally, and through feed from Postnatal Days 22 to 64 (total 78 days) produced an increase in the relative weights (% body) of spleen (L and H) and thymus (L). Furthermore, exposure to GEN increased the number of splenic B cells (H), T cells (L, M, and H), and T-cell subsets (L, M, and H). Although GEN decreased the percentages of splenic NK cells (L, M, and H), no effect on the activity of NK cells was observed. In F(1) females, exposure to GEN produced a decrease in terminal body weight (H), with an increase in the relative weight of spleen (L, M, and H). Exposure to GEN also increased the number of splenic B cells (L), macrophages (L and M), T cells (H), helper T cells (L and H), and cytotoxic T cells (M and H). Additionally, exposure to GEN increased the percentages of T cells (M and H), helper T cells (H), and cytotoxic T cells (M and H). Moreover, the spleen IgM antibody-forming cell response to sheep red blood cells was enhanced (H), although the percentages of B cells were decreased (M and H). No effect on the activity of NK cells was observed; however, the percentages of splenic NK cells were decreased by GEN (L and H). In conclusion, these results demonstrate that exposure to GEN can modulate the immune responses in Sprague-Dawley rats. Furthermore, the sexual dimorphic effects of GEN in F(1) male and female rats suggest that there may be interactions between GEN and the responses modulated by sex hormones.     

Disparate effects of representative dithiocarbamates on selected immunological parameters in vivo and cell survival in vitro in female B6C3F1 mice.

Recent studies indicate that sodium methyldithiocarbamate is immunotoxic. Major effects of this compound in female B6C3F1 mice include decreased thymus weight, increased spleen weight, and decreased natural killer (NK) cell activity. The effects of other dithiocarbamates on these parameters are not known, and the immunotoxic potential of this important class of compounds is uncertain. In the present study, the effects of sodium methyldithiocarbamate (SMD), sodium diethyldithiocarbamate (DEDTC), and disodium ethylene-bis(dithiocarbamate)(EBD) on thymus weight, spleen weight, and NK cell activity were compared in female B6C3F1 mice. SMD caused significant loss of thymic weight following oral administration at 200, 225, or 300 mg/kg/d for 7 d and caused significant suppression of splenic NK cell activity at doses of 150, 225, or 300 mg/kg/d for 7 d. In contrast, a dose of 1000 mg/kg/d of DEDTC was required to decrease significantly thymus weight or increase spleen weight, and the only significant change produced by EBD was a slight increase in spleen weight at a dose of 675 mg/kg/d. EBD and DEDTC did not affect NK cell activity at any dose tested. Dithiocarbamates are known to be cytotoxic for a variety of cell types, and it seemed possible that SMD might be more potent in vivo than EBD or DEDTC because it was more cytotoxic than these compounds. However, direct measurement of the cytotoxicity of all three compounds toward splenocytes and thymocytes in vitro demonstrated that SMD and EBD are approximately equally potent (EC50 from 6.1 to 10.5 microM), whereas DEDTC is much more potent (EC50 from 0.13 to 0.15 microM). Of the three compounds examined in this study, only SMD affected thymus weight, spleen weight, and splenic NK cell activity in vivo. Thus, this pattern of immunological effects is not produced by all dithiocarbamates. In addition, the data demonstrate that differences in the potency of SMD, DEDTC, and EBD in vivo do not correlate with their relative cytotoxic potencies in vitro.     

Thymic atrophy induced by murine mammary adenocarcinoma in vivo

The thymic compartment of mammary tumor bearing mice is severely affected with increasing tumor growth. T cell functions in peripheral organs are greatly impaired or absent in such animals. A study of the thymus in relation to tumorigenesis revealed a profound decrease in size accompanied by a disrupture of the normal thymic architecture. Although a strong splenic suppressor cell activity can be detected in this animal model, splenectomy did not prevent thymic involution. Injection of tumor associated factors into normal mice resulted in a thymic atrophy similar to that seen in tumor bearing mice. These findings indicate that the observed thymic involution may not be only due to stress-related phenomena but also a direct effect of the tumor.     

Enhancement of natural killer cell function by titanocenes in mice bearing Ehrlich ascites tumour

In the present work, we studied the effects of two titanocenes, biscyclopentadienyldichlorotitanium IV, (DDCT) and its derivative, biscyclopentadienylditiocianatetitanium IV (BCDT), on the activity of natural killer (NK) cells in Ehrlich ascites tumour (EAT)-bearing BALB/c mice. In order to investigate a more direct effect of these compounds on NK cell function, we performed experiments with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice, which exhibit a normal NK cell response in the absence of T and B cells. The treatment consisted of intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of 15 mg/kg/day of DDCT for 2 days or 10 mg/kg/day of BCDT for 3 days. In addition, to verify whether the effects produced by the titanocenes were compound specific or related to a direct antitumour effect, we also investigated the effects of a 3-day treatment with 100 mg/kg of cyclophosphamide cyclophosphamide on NK cell activity. Our results demonstrated that, in BALB/c and SCID mice, NK cell function declined to subnormal levels after inoculation of the tumour. In these animals, although treatment with DDCT and BCDT significantly enhanced NK cell function, only DDCT restored NK cell activity to normal values in all stages studied. Conversely, treatment with cyclophosphamide reduced NK cell function in nontumour bearing SCID mice and was also unable to restore the decreased NK activity of tumour-bearing SCID mice, thus demonstrating that the enhancement of NK cell function by titanocenes is compound specific. The same effect of cyclophosphamide was observed with BALB/c mice. In the present study, the up-modulatory effects of these two compounds on NK cell function reveal a new aspect of the mechanism of antitumoural action of titanocenes.