Influence of (+)-cyanidanol-3 on the leukocyte migration inhibition test carried out in the presence of purified protein derivative and hepatitis B surface antigen.

It has been shown that (+)-cyanidanol-3, therapeutically administered during the course of acute hepatitis B, is able to favor the elimination of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) from the blood. This observation suggests that (+)-cyanidanol-3 might stimulate the cell-mediated immune response, since it is known that this type of response is responsible for elimination of the virus. In the present study, the possible action of (+)-cyanidanol-3 on this type of immunity was investigated by adding the substance in vitro to leukocyte migration inhibition tests, performed with the antigens purified protein derivative (PPD) and HBsAg and with leukocytes from individuals sensitized to these antigens. In normal individuals sensitized to PPD, the addition of (+)-cyanidanol-3 amplified the inhibition of migration by 7.0% (P less than 0.05). In patients previously infected by hepatitis B virus and sensitized to HBsAg, the addition of (+)-cyanidanol-3 amplified the migration inhibition by 10.5% (P less than 0.05). A trend to a dose-response relation was observed with the antigen PPD. (+)-Cyanidanol-3 did not modify leukocyte migration in the absence of an antigen. (+)-Cyanidanol-3 therefore seems capable of amplifying the cell-mediated immune response as measured by the leukocyte migration inhibition test. It is thus possible that it favors the elimination of HBsAg in patients by this mechanism.