Inhibition of delayed hypersensitivity reactions by cinnamyl 1-thioglycosides.

Cinnamyl 1-thio-alpha-D-manno(and L-rhamno)pyranosides have good inhibitory effects in an antigen-specific T cell proliferation assay. The beta anomers are slightly less effective than the alpha anomers. The 6-substituted analogues of cinnamyl 1-thio-alpha-D-mannopyranoside such as 6-deoxy and 6-O-methyl derivatives also block macrophages in presenting the antigen to T cells. D-Mannose and L-rhamnose, when tested by themselves with no modifications, did not block at concentrations up to 1 mM. These cinnamyl 1-thioglycosides when given ip or po at 3-30 mg/kg to mice significantly inhibited the delayed type hypersensitivity reaction as measured by footpad swelling.