Postburn immunosuppression in an animal model. II. Restoration of cell-mediated immunity by immunomodulating drugs.

We used a model of full-thickness burn injury in the mouse and quantitated cell-mediated immunity (CMI) by measuring the degree of sensitization to the contact antigen, 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB). Our previous studies have shown that CMI in the burned mouse is severely suppressed. Using this immunosuppression model, we were able to significantly restore CMI by treating animals following the burn injury either with one of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ibuprofen or indomethacin or with the cytotoxic alkylating agent cyclophosphamide. These drugs probably restore CMI by inhibiting generation of suppressor T lymphocytes in the burned host.