The influence of tetracyclines on T cell activation.
Minocycline has been shown to have an anti-inflammatory effect in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Since there is evidence that RA is a T cell-mediated disease, we investigated the effect of minocycline on human T cell clones derived from the synovium of an RA patient. The T cells, when activated via the T cell receptor (TCR)/CD3 complex, were suppressed functionally by minocycline, resulting in a dose-dependent inhibition of T cell proliferation and reduction in production of IL-2, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). Besides an inhibition of IL-2 production, minocycline exerted its effect on T cell proliferation by induction of a decreased IL-2 responsiveness. We showed that the chelating capacity of minocycline plays a crucial role in the inhibitory effect on T cell function, since the inhibitory effect on T cell proliferation could be annulled by addition of exogenous Ca2+. However, minocycline did not markedly influence the typical TCR/CD3-induced intracellular Ca2+ mobilization. Taken together, the results clearly indicate that minocycline has immunomodulating effects on human T cells.
Kloppenburg
M
M
Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Verweij
C L
CL
Miltenburg
A M
AM
Verhoeven
A J
AJ
Daha
M R
MR
Dijkmans
B A
BA
Breedveld
F C
FC
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008911:Minocycline / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017260:Receptor-CD3 Complex, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000502:physiology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D007376:Interleukin-2; D017260:Receptor-CD3 Complex, Antigen, T-Cell; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D008911:Minocycline; D004318:Doxycycline; D002118:Calcium