Influence of beta‐adrenoceptor blocking agents on lymphocyte function in vitro.

Abstract

1 In order to assess whether /8-adrenoceptor blocking agents may have an immunomodulatory influence, the in vitro effect of propranolol, metoprolol and atenolol on mitogenic activation of human peripheral blood lymphocytes was studied. To investigate further the mechanism of this influence, the effects of quinidine and two other membrane stabilizing agents were examined.2 At 100 and 1000 gmol/l, both (+)-propranolol, (-)-propranolol and (+)-propranolol evoked a strong reduction of mitogenic lymphocyte activation. A similar effect was obtained with quinidine.

Local anaesthesia and immunomodulatory effects of antithyroid drugs

“…However, according to the present results the suppressive effect of 1 mM PTU on lympho¬ cytes (Hallengren et al 1980) can hardly be due to a local anaesthetic effect. In addition, the recorded local anaesthetic capacity of MMI can scarcely explain the influence of MMI on lymphocytes, as MMI in contrast to propranolol (Hallengren et al 1982) enhances mitogenic activation of lympho¬ cytes (Hallengren et al 1980;Okabe et al 1983).…”

“…In addition to its beta-adrenergic antagonist capa¬ city, propranolol has a local anaesthetic activity (Waal-Manning 1976) which could be involved in its suppressive effect on mitogenic activation of lymphocytes in vitro (Hallengren et al 1982). Like propranolol the antithyroid drugs propylthiouracil (PTU) and methimazole (MMI) can interfere with mitogenic activation of lymphocytes (Goldrath et al 1982;Hallengren et al 1980;McGregor et al 1980;Okabe et al 1983;Wall et al 1976), but the mechanism of this interference is unclear.…”

Enhancingin vivo effect of propranolol on human lymphocyte function is not due to stereospecific beta-adrenergic blockade

“…Hallengren et al [18] described a strong reduction of mitogenic lymphocyte responses in the presence of high concentrations of both (R)-and (S)-isomers of propranolol in vitro, which was interpreted as a nonspecific membrane effect. The hitherto reported data about systemic enhancing effects of propranolol on lymphocyte functions [14,15] were obtained with the commercially available racemic (R, S)-form of the drug.…”

Diagnosis and management of viral myocarditis

“…A low-dose regimen of carvedilol, metoprolol, or bisoprolol can be started and the dose increased slowly. Although -blockers have been shown to be beneficial in patients with HF, there is some experimental evidence in animal models that they can interfere with the body's defenses against viral replication [20,21] and may need to be used with caution in patients with suspected viral myocarditis. If patients show no improvement or reveal evidence of decompensation, a positive inotrope (eg, intravenous dobutamine) can be used intermittently.…”