title: Suppression of human monocyte interleukin 1 production by the plant alkaloid tetrandrine.
abstract: The bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid, tetrandrine, was shown to affect some important human monocyte functions. The drug caused significant inhibition of random movement, chemotaxis, superoxide anion generation and interleukin 1 (IL-1) production. By contrast, degranulation and hexose-monophosphate shunt activity were unaffected. Tetrandrine may be of value in the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases where IL-1 has a major role as an inflammatory mediator.
authors.affiliation: Immunobiology Laboratory Department of Child Health, University of Queensland, Mater Children's Hospital, South Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: W K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Seow
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferrante
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Y H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Thong
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D044182:Benzylisoquinolines; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / Q000187:drug effects; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000187:drug effects; D005966:Glucuronidase / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D009113:Muramidase / Q000378:metabolism; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D044182:Benzylisoquinolines; D007375:Interleukin-1; D013481:Superoxides; C009438:tetrandrine; D009113:Muramidase; D005966:Glucuronidase