Folic acid immune response

Hydroxymethyl-6-methyluracil (1043) was prepared many years ago from 6-methyl-uracil and formaldehyde, or in other ways. Since 1956 it has received much attention in the USSR under the (transliterated) name pentoxyl or pentoxil. It is used in several anaemic and disease conditions. For example, a mixture of folic acid and pentoxyl quickly reduces the anaemia resulting from lead poisoning pentoxyl stimulates the supply of serum protein after massive blood loss it stimulates wound healing it stimulates the immune response in typhus infection and it potentiates the action of sulfonamides in pneumococcus infections (70MI21300). 

A search for antimetabolites, i.e. analogues of essential metabolites that might displace the latter in vital processes, was proposed as a rational approach to the discovery of antibacterial agents, but it has had little success other than the achievements in the folic acid field (Section 1.06.6). Substances that resemble the components of nucleic acids have, however, had considerable success in the chemotherapy of cancer and of some virus diseases and in the suppression of the immune response. They may act by becoming incorporated in false nucleic acids or by blocking the synthesis of nucleic acids, nucleotides, nucleosides or of the pyrimidine and purine bases cytosine (88), thymine (89 R = Me), adenine (90) and guanine (91 X = CH). The simplest antimetabolites are analogues of these bases. 

Fluorometholone depresses formation, release, and activity of endogenons mediators of inflammation as well as modifying the body s immune response. Sulfacetamide competitively antagonizes para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), an essential component of folic acid synthesis. 

Newberne, P. M., (1977). Effect of folic acid, Bi2 choline, and methionine on immunocompetence and cel1-mediated immunity, in Suskind, R.M. (ed.) Malnutrition.and the Immune Response (New York Raven Press) 376-386. 

Considering the central role of folic acid in cellular DNA synthesis it would not be surprising that the immune response, which requires rapid proliferation of sensitized cells would be affected by a deficiency of this cofactor. However, there have been few systematic studies of the effect of folate deficiency on immunocompetence in either animal or human models. Table I summarizes the alterations in humoral and cell-mediated immunity which have been observed in patients with megaloblastic anemia due to folate deficiency as well as studies in folate deficient animals. 

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