IMMUNOPOTENTIATING EFFECTS OF AMPHOTERICIN-B .1. ENHANCED CONTACT SENSITIVITY IN MICE

Abstract

Contact sensitivity responses to dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) or oxazolone were enhanced by amphotericin B (AmB) administration. This adjuvant effect of AmB was documented in mice by ear thickness measurements, ear histology and the 5-iodo-2''-deoxyuridine-125I ear assay. The optimum immunopotentiating effect of AmB required simultaneous administration at the time of skin sensitization. AmB-induced adjuvant effects were observed in adoptive transfer experiments in which syngeneic recipients of lymph node cells from animals sensitized with DNFB plus AmB gave stronger contact sensitivity responses than recipients of cells from mice sensitized with DNFB alone. AmB interfered with tolerance induction by i.v. dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid. Adjuvant effects of AmB may involve inhibition of suppressor cells or their precursors.