TY - JOUR
T1 - IL-18BPa:Fc cooperates with immunosuppressive drugs in human whole blood
AU - Nold, Marcel
AU - Hauser, Ingeborg A.
AU - Höfler, Sonja
AU - Goede, Andreas
AU - Eberhardt, Wolfgang
AU - Ditting, Till
AU - Geiger, Helmut
AU - Pfeilschifter, Josef
AU - Mühl, Heiko
PY - 2003/8/1
Y1 - 2003/8/1
N2 - The proinflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-18 appears to be involved in the pathogenesis of diseases associated with immunoactivation and inflammation. Consequently, blockage of IL-18 bioactivity by use of IL-18 binding protein (IL-18BP) is likely a promising therapeutic concept. In the present study, we investigated immunomodulatory activities of IL-18BPa:Fc in human whole blood cultures. We report that IL-18BPa:Fc (200ng/mL) significantly inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 10ng/mL)/IL-12 (5ng/mL)-induced release of interferon-γ (IFNγ) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) from whole blood cultures of healthy donors. Notably, IL-18BPa:Fc (200ng/mL) further reinforced dexamethasone (5nM)- or mycophenolic acid (2μM)-mediated reduction of LPS/IL-12-induced IFNγ production by an additional 50.5 or 49.9%, respectively. To investigate effects of IL-18BP:Fc in the context of autoimmune diseases, experiments were performed with whole blood obtained from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus or Wegener's granulomatosis undergoing immunosuppressive therapy. After ex vivo stimulation with LPS (10ng/mL), production of IFNγ and MMP-9 was determined. Both mediators likely contribute to renal inflammation frequently seen in these diseases. In accord with the aforementioned data, LPS (10ng/mL)-induced IFNγ was significantly reduced by coincubation with IL-18BPa:Fc at 200ng/mL. IL-18BPa:Fc also inhibited production of MMP-9. The present data demonstrate that IL-18BPa:Fc has the potential to amplify anti-inflammatory actions of immunosuppressive drugs, and thus may prove to be a valuable novel pharmacological component in the treatment of human autoimmune diseases.
AB - The proinflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-18 appears to be involved in the pathogenesis of diseases associated with immunoactivation and inflammation. Consequently, blockage of IL-18 bioactivity by use of IL-18 binding protein (IL-18BP) is likely a promising therapeutic concept. In the present study, we investigated immunomodulatory activities of IL-18BPa:Fc in human whole blood cultures. We report that IL-18BPa:Fc (200ng/mL) significantly inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 10ng/mL)/IL-12 (5ng/mL)-induced release of interferon-γ (IFNγ) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) from whole blood cultures of healthy donors. Notably, IL-18BPa:Fc (200ng/mL) further reinforced dexamethasone (5nM)- or mycophenolic acid (2μM)-mediated reduction of LPS/IL-12-induced IFNγ production by an additional 50.5 or 49.9%, respectively. To investigate effects of IL-18BP:Fc in the context of autoimmune diseases, experiments were performed with whole blood obtained from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus or Wegener's granulomatosis undergoing immunosuppressive therapy. After ex vivo stimulation with LPS (10ng/mL), production of IFNγ and MMP-9 was determined. Both mediators likely contribute to renal inflammation frequently seen in these diseases. In accord with the aforementioned data, LPS (10ng/mL)-induced IFNγ was significantly reduced by coincubation with IL-18BPa:Fc at 200ng/mL. IL-18BPa:Fc also inhibited production of MMP-9. The present data demonstrate that IL-18BPa:Fc has the potential to amplify anti-inflammatory actions of immunosuppressive drugs, and thus may prove to be a valuable novel pharmacological component in the treatment of human autoimmune diseases.
KW - Autoimmune diseases
KW - Immunosuppressive agents
KW - Inflammation
KW - Interferon-γ
KW - Interleukin-18
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0042405121&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/S0006-2952(03)00294-6
DO - 10.1016/S0006-2952(03)00294-6
M3 - Article
C2 - 12907250
AN - SCOPUS:0042405121
VL - 66
SP - 505
EP - 510
JO - Biochemical Pharmacology
JF - Biochemical Pharmacology
SN - 0006-2952
IS - 3
ER -