Thalidomide reduces tumour necrosis factor-alpha production by human alveolar macrophages.
Overexuberant production of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) by macrophages and other cells is thought to contribute to the development of permanent lung damage in many inflammatory conditions. There is a need for an agent, without the side-effects of corticosteroids, which can reduce the production of TNF-alpha by macrophages activated by disease. This study evaluated the effect of thalidomide on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced TNF-alpha production by human alveolar macrophages obtained from patients with tuberculosis and a group of other diseases associated with macrophage activation. Alveolar macrophages obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage from 31 patients (tuberculosis = 12, sarcoidosis = 3, lung cancer = 5, chronic bronchitis = 5, pneumonia = 6) were stimulated with LPS alone or LPS in combination with either thalidomide or dexamethasone. Cell-associated TNF-alpha, as measured by immunochemistry, and TNF-alpha released by macrophages, as assessed by ELISA, were markedly increased when cells were incubated with LPS (P < 0.05), and both were decreased following addition of thalidomide (P < 0.05) or dexamethasone (P < 0.05) to amounts similar to those observed when macrophages were incubated with medium alone. Similarly, TNF-alpha mRNA as measured by in situ hybridization was increased following incubation with LPS (P < 0.05), but this increase was prevented by addition of thalidomide (P < 0.05) or dexamethasone (P < 0.05). The ability of thalidomide to reduce LPS-induced TNF-alpha production by alveolar macrophages was the same when cells from patients with tuberculosis (a disease associated with TNF-alpha production) and cells from patients with the other conditions were compared. The ability of thalidomide to reduce TNF-alpha production by human alveolar macrophages from patients with active lung disease suggests that thalidomide and its analogues may have potential as drugs to reduce TNF-alpha production in disease.
Tavares
J L
JL
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Imperial College School of Medicine at St. Mary's London, UK.
Wangoo
A
A
Dilworth
P
P
Marshall
B
B
Kotecha
S
S
Shaw
R J
RJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D016676:Macrophages, Alveolar / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000276:immunology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D013792:Thalidomide