Int J Immunopharmacol 1982;4(6):497-506 Thiabendazole (TBZ), an immunohemomodulator. II. Effects on thymocytes and prothymocytes. Donskaya E, Goldschneider I, Lundy J, Simon R. The purpose of this study was to document the effects of TBZ on the early stages of T cell maturation. The method utilized to quantify presumptive thymocyte progenitors in the bone marrow used the enzyme terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) as a marker. Shifts in thymocyte populations were determined by quantitative planimetry, immunofluorescence for TdT and tritiated thymidine incorporation. When given alone, TBZ produced a marked increase in the number of large, mitotically active lymphoblasts in the thymus cortex. When given with DNFB, a thymus-dependent neoantigen, TBZ produced a significant increase in TdT-positive bone marrow cells. In a companion study, TBZ + DNFB were found to stimulate T cells in lymph node and spleen. Hence, the results indicate that under appropriate conditions, TBZ can stimulate all stages of T cell differentiation in mice. PMID: 6984025 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]