title: Clofazimine-mediated augmentation of LPS-induced tumor necrosis factor production in macrophages.
abstract: Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) exerts multiple biological activities including immune response. It is also believed to play an important role in anti-bacterial response. In this study in vitro, we observed augmentation of LPS-induced TNF production from mouse macrophages by clofazimine treatment. Rifampicin, however, did not indicate such an activity. Clofazimine itself, on the other hand, did not have any TNF-inducing activity. Clofazimine is a well known anti-leprosy drug; in addition, from the results obtained here, this drug could induce anti-M. leprae response of host by way of the augmented immune response by enhanced cytokine production from macrophages.
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Leprosy Research, Japan.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Minagawa
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fukutomi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002991:Clofazimine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005260:Female; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002991:Clofazimine