Comparison of Immunomodulative Effects of the Histamine-2 Receptor Antagonists Cimetidine, Ranitidine, and Famotidine on Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells in Gastric Cancer Patients

Abstract

Of the three H2-RAs tested, cimetidine had the strongest and famotidine the weakest immunomodulating effect. Only cimetidine augmented the cytotoxicity and proliferative response of lymphocyte to mitogen; neither ranitidine nor famotidine had such an effect. These results might be due to their structural differences. In addition, the immunologic effects of H2-RA are unlikely to be mediated via specific interaction at the H2 receptor.