Studies of an immunomodulator, swainsonine. II. Effect of swainsonine on mouse immunodeficient system and experimental murine tumor.

We examined the effect of swainsonine on antibody response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) in immunodeficient mice which were treated with immunosuppressive factor or antitumor drugs, or inoculated with sarcoma 180 ascites tumor. The administration of swainsonine restored the capacities of the immunodeficient mice to produce antibody against SRBC. Furthermore, swainsonine inhibited completely the growth of sarcoma 180 ascites tumor in mice. Swainsonine also reduced lung metastases of B16 melanoma in mice. These results suggest that swainsonine has potential as an immunomodulator for the treatment of immunocompromised hosts.