A comparison of the effects of tixocortol pivalate (JO 1016) , beclomethasone dipropionate and hydrocortisone acetate on the activation of lymphocytes
Uphill, P.F.
Arzneimittel-Forschung 31(3): 459-462
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0004-4172 PMID: 6784735 Document Number: 168701
A comparative study was made of the effects of hydrocortisone acetate, beclomethasone dipropionate and a corticosteroid substitute (pregn-4-ene-3,20-dione-21-thiol-11 beta,17 alpha-dihydroxy-21-pivalate, tixocortol pivalate, JO 1016, Pivalone) on lymphocyte activation. The response measured in vivo was the production of heamagglutinating antibody by mice in response to immunization with sheep erythrocytes. The in vitro response tested was the blastocytic transformation of T cells in mixed lymphocyte culture. All three compounds suppressed T cell activation in vitro. Tixocortol pivalate however, was non-toxic and non-immunosuppressive when administered to mice, in contrast to hydrocortisone acetate and beclomethasone dipropionate, which were toxic and immuno-suppressive at the highest dose levels tested. These results indicated that tixocortol pivalate would, by virtue of its low toxicity and absence of general immunosuppression, have potential advantages over both hydrocortisone acetate and beclomethasone dipropionate in the topical treatment of allergic conditions of mucous membranes.