The inhibition of NK cell function by azathioprine during the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Treatment with azathioprine of patients with rheumatoid arthritis leads to a dramatic reduction in the 4 h NK cytotoxicity against K562 cells. The 24 h cytotoxicity against K562 and U937 cells, however, remains intact. The generation of cell-free supernatant cytotoxic factor(s) after incubating non-adherent mononuclear cells with U937 cells for 24 h is similar in the azathioprine patients and the controls. A large part of this supernatant cytotoxicity is due to tumour necrosis factor alpha which can be inhibited by a specific monoclonal antibody. The mechanism of the reduced 4 h NK cytotoxicity remains unknown but is probably not related to the anti-inflammatory properties of azathioprine.
Cseuz
R
R
Division of Medicine, United Medical School, Guy's Hospital, London.
Panayi
G S
GS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D055646:Killer Factors, Yeast; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012016:Reference Values; D013997:Time Factors; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
D055646:Killer Factors, Yeast; D011506:Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D001379:Azathioprine