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

1 In order to assess whether beta-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 mumol/l, both (+)-propranolol, (-)-propranolol and (+/-)-propranolol evoked a strong reduction of mitogenic lymphocyte activation. A similar effect was obtained with quinidine. Even at 1000 mumol/l metoprolol, had only a slight suppressive effect and atenolol had no suppressive influence at all. 3 It appears that propranolol may suppress mitogenic activation of lymphocytes, and that the effect may be ascribed to membrane stabilization rather than to beta-adrenoceptor blockade.