Effects of bifonazole, fluconazole, itraconazole, and terbinafine on the chemiluminescence response of immune cells

The luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence (CL) assay was used to examine the effects of antifungal agents tested at concentrations above and below therapeutically achievable levels on the CL response of mouse spleen cells. Reduction in the CL response of phagocytic cells may be indicative of an inhibition of the cellular immune response. Concomitantly, an increase in the CL response of phagocytic cells may indicate an enhancement of the immune capacity of these cells. The effects of four antifungal agents, bifonazole, fluconazole (UK-49,858), itraconazole, and terbinafine were studied. Changes in the CL response were assessed in terms of peak intensity, time to peak intensity, and area under the intensity-time curve compared with appropriate diluent controls for each drug. Both bifonazole and itraconazole caused significant reduction in peak CL intensity only at the highest level assayed (20 mg/l). Fluconazole had no significant effect on the CL response of mouse spleen cells at levels up to 20 mg/1, inclusive. Although terbinafine had no significant effect on peak CL intensity, it did cause a significant decrease in time to peak response at levels above 5 mg/1. This decrease in time to peak response may be indicative of an enhancement in the immune capacity of the mouse spleen cells; the clinical significance of this observation remains to be determined.