Stimulation of human T lymphocyte colony formation by cefbuperazone and other β-lactam antibiotics

Abstract

Effects of β-lactam antibiotics (piperacillin, cefapirin, cefoperazone, cefbuperazone) on human T lymphocyte colony formation were investigated. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from six normal volunteers were cultured with phytohemagglutinin-P (PHA) and each antibiotic in semi-solid agar for 7 days. These four antibiotics, especially cefbuperazone, increased the number of colonies of mononuclear cells from five volunteers.
The effects of these antibiotics on PHA-induced and direct growth of the mononuclear cells were slight and variable among six volunteers. No relationship was observed between the effects on T lymphocyte colony formation and PHA-induced growth by four antibiotics.
Cefbuperazone enhanced PHA-induced interleukin 2 production by mononuclear cells from two volunteers, in which enhanced colony formation by the drug was observed.
These results suggest that cefbuperazone stimulates the immunological function of lymphocytes.