Alteration of delta psi-dependent amino acid transports in Streptococcus pneumoniae by the antitumoral drug SOAz

Modulation of polyclonal activation of lymphocytes by cyclophosphazenic compounds bearing ethylene-imino groups and vectorized by polyamines

Cyclophosphazenic compounds bearing ethylene-imino groups are cytocydal chemicals which can modulate polyclonal activation of lymphocytes (PAL) and prevent the development of murine lupus. The effects on PAL of the different parts of these chemicals and of vectorization by polyamines have been investigated by treating lipopolysaccharide injected C57Bl/6 mice with various cyclophosphazenic compounds and thiotepa. The immune effects of the cyclophosphazenic substances have been found to be mediated by ethylene-imino groups and to be modulated by polyamine vectorization. These compounds might represent a new class of drugs for treatment of immune mediated diseases of the lupus type.

Prevention of lupus diseases in MRL/1, NZBxNZW, and BXSB mice treated with a cyclophosphazene derived drug

A polyclonal activation of lymphocytes (PA) has been suggested to play a pathogenic role in autoimmune and immune complex diseases, particularly in mouse lupus. "DIAM 4," a cyclophosphazene derived drug, selected on the basis of its ability to modulate a PA has been used to treat female MRL/1, female NZBxNZW, and male BXSB mice. In these three strains of mice, the treatment was found to induce an inhibition of the PA, to prevent the increase of anti-DNA antibody levels and the simultaneous decrease of C3 levels, to prevent the appearance of proteinuria, the deposition of immune complexes in glomeruli, and the development of kidney lesions. Moreover in MRL/1 mice, lymphoproliferation was prevented. These results suggest that drugs able to modulate a PA might be efficient in the treatment of mouse lupus nephritis. Such a principle of immunomodulation might open the way to new possibilities of treatment of lupus and other immune complex diseases.