Immunomodulation with thymopentin: in vitro studies.

Immunomodulation is interpreted as a temporary alert in a certain part of the immune system. The activation of immune competent cells is presented as a possible basic mechanism of this phenomenon. In the absence of a primary stimulus, immunomodulation remains physiologically silent, but it results in a modified immune response if the corresponding targets are being stimulated. For practical reasons it is suggested that distinctions be made between preventive and regulative immunomodulation. The PWM-induced IgG production of PBMCs was used as a model for the demonstration of the modulatory effect of thymopentin in vitro. Depending on the concentration of thymopentin used in the cultures, this pentapeptide can either stimulate or inhibit the induced IgG production. It also influences PGE2 production and catabolism in the cultures stimulated with PWM. Indomethacin abolishes the modulatory effect of thymopentin on IgG production in this model. It is suggested that the possibility of interactions between an immune modulator and therapeutic approaches which can influence the proportions or functions of the corresponding target cells be considered.