title: Superinduction of cytokine gene transcription by ciprofloxacin.
abstract: In addition to their antibacterial properties, certain antibiotics are also biologic response modifiers. The fluorinated 4-quinolone, ciprofloxacin, for example, up-regulates IL-2 and IFN-gamma production in PBLs stimulated in vitro. In the present study, ciprofloxacin was shown to increase the levels of mRNA for IL-1 alpha, IL-2 and its receptor, IFN-gamma, IL-3, IL-4, granulocyte-macrophage/CSF, TNF-alpha, and lymphotoxin. As investigated with different T cell mitogens and alloantigens, the up-regulation of IL-2 production by ciprofloxacin was found to be independent of the mode of stimulation. Analysis of transcription activity showed that ciprofloxacin enhances IL-2 gene induction. The concentrations of nuclear factor of activated T cells (NF-AT-1) and AP-1 were also found to be increased by ciprofloxacin. Thus, ciprofloxacin interferes with a regulative pathway common to several cytokines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Lund University, Malmö General Hospital, Sweden.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Riesbeck
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sigvardsson
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Leanderson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Forsgren
mesh_terms: D002939:Ciprofloxacin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D007376:Interleukin-2; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors; D002939:Ciprofloxacin