CYP targets fast-dividing cells which replicate rapidly (eg. cancer cells) as they are most sensitive to alkylating agents. However, the action of CYP is not selective, and therefore the drug can also damage the fast-proliferating cells of healthy tissue, including bone marrow cells (in particular the developing blood cells), activated lymphocytes (that proliferate and produce antibodies), immune cells and intestinal epithelial cells (Danysza et al., …show more content…
Therefore, it influences proliferating cells and may also retard their intermitotic functions. The above may inhibit phagocytic activity at various stages of phagocytosis. Phagocyte suppression may result from inhibited synthesis of cytokines and the enzymes which regulate the functions of phagocytes (Roman and Anna, 2010). Furthermore, CYP had an inhibitory effect on protein production, causing a decrease in γ-globulin levels. The above most probably resulted from the adverse side effects of cyclophosphamide on hepatocytes which produce protein. The analyzed drug indirectly affects the levels of ceruloplasmin (and other acute-phase proteins) through the impairment of the synthesis of cytokines which stimulate the production of proteins in the liver, i.e. TNF-α secreted mostly by monocytes and macrophages (Roman and Anna, 2010). Cytokines are low molecular weight extracellular signaling proteins secreted by immune and inflammatory cell populations, chemokines, oncogenes, as well as growth factors and other soluble factors either constitutively or after induction (Desai, 2007). They are involved in virtually every aspect of immunity and inflammation, including development and functioning of the immune system, cell proliferation and differentiation, cellular recruitment and activation, regulation of cellular interactions with extracellular matrix proteins. Cytokines mediate the