title: Unexpected up-regulation of gene expression by cyclosporin A and FK-506 in a T-cell lymphoma: both immunosuppressants augment Ly-6E antigen induction by interferon-gamma in the presence of ionomycin.
abstract: Cyclosporin A (CsA) and FK-506 inhibit lymphokine gene activation in T-cells. In the present study, we investigated the effects of these immunosuppressants on the regulation of a non-lymphokine molecule, the Ly-6E surface antigen, in the YAC-1 T-cell lymphoma. These cells do not normally express Ly-6E mRNA or Ly-6E surface molecules but are induced to do so upon treatment with IFN-gamma. At submicromolar concentrations, CsA or FK-506 did not alter this induction. However, at higher concentrations (1-12 microM), they both increased the induction of Ly-6E mRNA expression. Cyclosporin A or FK-506 also markedly affected Ly-6E induction when the cultures were co-treated with the calcium ionophore, ionomycin. In the absence of CsA or FK-506, ionomycin suppressed Ly-6E induction by IFN-gamma. Both immunosuppressants reversed this inhibitory effect and increased Ly-6E mRNA and Ly-6E surface expression to levels that were 2- to 3-fold higher than in cells induced with IFN-gamma alone. In this system, the two immunosuppressants were active at pharmacologically relevant concentrations, similar to those inhibiting normal T-cell activation, with FK-506 being 30- to 50-fold more potent than CsA. The ability of CsA analogs to enhance Ly-6E induction in the presence of ionomycin also correlated with their immunosuppressive activity. Therefore, through mechanisms apparently related to those involved in their immunosuppressive action, both CsA and FK-506 convert the negative effect of ionomycin on IFN-gamma-mediated Ly-6E induction into an overall positive effect. The YAC-1 cell model, described here, provides a unique example of upregulation of gene expression by these two immunosuppressants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology Research, Merck, Sharp and Dohme Research Laboratories, Rahway, NJ 07065.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Altmeyer
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Staruch
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Durette
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Tocci
authors.forename: N H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Sigal
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Dumont
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000950:Antigens, Ly / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D015759:Ionomycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D016399:Lymphoma, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D000950:Antigens, Ly; D015759:Ionomycin; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D016572:Cyclosporine; D016559:Tacrolimus