Earlier specific cell-mediated immune reactions and their modulation by different drugs were reported against human vascular antigens in patients with vascular diseases. Presently the effect of Etofibrate (Lipo-Merz) was studied on cellular immune reactions induced by human aorta with lipid plaques and on serum lipid parameters in 46 men with acute myocardial infarction and in 48 men with arteriosclerosis obliterans compared to 40 healthy controls. Leucocyte migration test and lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity were repeatedly investigated in the presence of human aortic extract with or without Etofibrate (2 micrograms/50 microliters). The degree of leucocyte migration inhibition and of lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity proved to be similar in hypherlipaemic and in normolipaemic groups. Etofibrate could decrease cellular immune reactions both in hyperlipaemic and normolipaemic patients, but its effect was more expressive in the hyperlipaemic than normolipaemic group. Three months later a reduction of cellular immune reactions was found mainly in normolipaemic patients. Ten patients with myocardial infarction and 10 arteriosclerosis obliterans patients were treated with Etofibrate (900 mg/day) for 12 weeks. After therapy, cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL concentrations were reduced, HDL level was increased and the rate of LDL:HDL decreased. Leucocyte migration inhibition and lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity were also diminished. This time the cellular immune reactions of treated patients were only slightly reduced "in vitro" by Etofibrate in contrast with non treated hyper- and normolipaemic patients in whom cellular immune reactions were decreased by Etofibrate similarly to the first determinations. On the basis of our observations Etofibrate may be useful in the therapy of arteriosclerotic vascular diseases with or without hyperlipaemia, because it could decrease the cellular sensitization against aortic tissue.

Adult↗

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Cell-mediated and humoral immune response in various vascular diseases.

Cellular and humoral immune reactions were studied in patients with myocardial infarction, arteriosclerosis obliterans and superficial thrombophlebitis. Antigens were prepared from human aortic wall with lipid plaques and from vena cava tissue. Migration of leukocytes was inhibited and both DNA-synthesis and antibody production were increased in all groups of patients. No immune reaction could be observed in the controls. A cross-reactivity between aortic and vascular extracts was detected by the leukocyte migration test and by the passive hemagglutination technique, while the induction of DNA-synthesis proved to be specific. Investigating the time-kinetics of cellular and humoral immune response, cellular immune reactions were found to be still present long after the appearance of humoral antibodies.

Antibody Formation↗