title: Mode of action of FK-506 on protective immunity to Hymenolepis nana in mice.
abstract: FK-506 (Tacrolimus) has been shown to block T cell proliferation in vitro by inhibiting the generation of several lymphokines, especially interleukin (IL)-2, but little direct evidence is available to support the view that the immunosuppressive effects of FK-506 in vivo are mediated by a similar inhibition of lymphokine cascade. To investigate the mechanisms of FK-506-induced immunosuppression, the effects of FK-506 on cell-mediated immunity to Hymenolepis nana were examined in mice. FK-506 administration into BALB/c mice daily at a dose of 10.0 mg/kg (but not 5.0 mg/kg) for 5 days caused suppression of protective immunity against H. nana challenge infection. During the infection of mice with H. nana, IL-2 and interferon (IFN)-gama were produced by mesenteric lymph node (MLN) cells with a time course corresponding to that of MLN T cell proliferation. These responses were completely suppressed by repeated administration of FK-506 for 5 days at a dose of 10.0 mg/kg/day (but not 5.0 mg/kg/day). In contrast to the effects of FK-506 on IL-2 and IFN-gamma productions in MLN, IL-1 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in the intestinal wall, which were enhanced by H. nana infection, were not completely decreased as a result of 10.0 mg/kg FK-506 treatment. The reverse transcriptase-PCR revealed complete inhibition of IL-2 and IFN-gamma mRNA expression on mesenteric L3T4+ cells that were induced by H. nana infection, when mice were given 10.0 mg/kg/day FK-506 for 5 days. These results strongly suggest that FK-506 affects cell-mediated immunity in vivo with mechanisms similar to those observed in vitro.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biology, School of Medicine, Showa University, Tokyo.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Asano
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taki
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matsuo
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamada
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002457:Cell Extracts; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006925:Hymenolepiasis / Q000276:immunology*; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002457:Cell Extracts; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D007376:Interleukin-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D013936:Thymidine; D016559:Tacrolimus