title: The effect of Biostim (RU-41740) on the expression of cytokine mRNAs in murine peritoneal macrophages in vitro.
abstract: The immunomodulatory agent Biostim (RU-41740) was investigated for its ability to induce the expression of cytokine mRNAs in murine peritoneal macrophages in vitro. Northern blot analysis showed that in quiescent macrophage populations, both IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta mRNA levels were dramatically increased in response to 1 microgram/ml Biostim. Dot-blot analysis showed that in quiescent macrophage populations the expression of mRNAs for IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6 and TNF-alpha could be elevated by concentrations of Biostim as low as 1-10 pg/ml, detectable after 3 h exposure. In parallel experiments LPS was effective only at the higher concentration of 10 ng/ml. Time-course analysis showed that the expression of these cytokine mRNAs was transient, peaking after 1-3 h; only transcripts of IL-1 beta were detectable after 23 h exposure. No effects were seen on the expression of actin, a high-turnover housekeeping gene. We propose that this type of analysis represents a sensitive, specific and reproducible method for assessing the ability of drugs and chemicals to modulate the expression of cytokines that play a pivotal role in the induction of the immune response.
authors.affiliation: Immunotoxicology Department, British Industrial Biological Research Association, Carshalton, Surrey, U.K.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meredith
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pekelharing
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000235:genetics; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D010529:Peritoneal Cavity / Q000166:cytology; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D016207:Cytokines; D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; C037567:glycoprotein, Klebsiella pneumoniae