Immunosuppression and recovery of drug-impaired host resistance against Candida albicans infection by oxoglaucine.

Abstract The immunosuppressive action of aporphinoid alkaloid oxoglaucine was studied in experimental Candida albicans ( C. albicans ) infection in mice. The alkaloid augmented host resistance to pathogen applied to mice (6–8 weeks of age) at a low dose of 2 mg kg −1 in 3 days and impaired it at a high dose of 10 mg kg −1 . The suppressive activity observed under the latter schedule correlated with the inhibited proliferative response of splenic cells to mitogens and with decreased popliteal lymph node (PLN) reaction to C. albicans . Treatment of mice with oxoglaucine (at the age of 5 days) at a dose of 5 mg kg −1 in 3 consecutive days increased the susceptibility to Candida inoculation at the age of 6 weeks. Delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) response to C. albicans was enhanced after pretreatment of adult mice and was suppressed after administration to newborn mice. Long-time treatment (10 days) with oxoglaucine, cyclophoshamide or prednisolone at a dose of 10 mg kg −1 increased the rate of mortality of Candida -infected mice. Combined pretreatment of mice with cyclophosphamide or prednisolone (5 days at a dose of 5 mg kg −1 ) followed by oxoglaucine (5 days at a dose of 5 mg kg −1 ), prolonged the survival of infected mice. 2000 Academic Press@p$hr