title: Inhibitory effect of clarithromycin on costimulatory molecule expression and cytokine production by synovial fibroblast-like cells.
abstract: This study was undertaken to investigate the immunomodulatory effect of clarithromycin against synovial fibroblast-like cells (synoviocytes). Synovial tissue obtained from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or osteoarthritis (OA) patients was enzymatically digested to separate synoviocytes. The synoviocytes were cultured with or without cytokines in the presence of various concentrations of clarithromycin. The expression of costimulatory molecules was examined on the surface of the synoviocytes, using specific MoAbs and flow cytometry. The production of cytokines by synoviocytes was also measured using an immunoenzymatic assay. Finally, autologous T cells were stimulated by interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)-treated synoviocytes in response to purified protein derivative (PPD). In some experiments, MoAbs specific for costimulatory molecules or clarithromycin were added and 3H-thymidine incorporation was counted. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), LFA-3 and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) were detected on the surface of both RA and OA synoviocytes. However, ICAM-2, B7-1 and B7-2 were not detected, and cytokines failed to induce these molecules. Both spontaneous and up-regulated expression of ICAM-1, LFA-3 and VCAM-1 by IFN-gamma, IL-1beta or 12-o-tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate (TPA) were markedly suppressed by clarithromycin in a dose-dependent manner at concentrations between 0.1 and 10 microg/ml. The production of IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) but not IL-1alpha and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) by synoviocytes was detected. Clarithromycin significantly suppressed the production of these cytokines, but did not enhance IL-10 production. Finally, autologous T cells were stimulated by IFN-gamma-treated synoviocytes in response to PPD. As clarithromycin suppressed HLA-DR and costimulatory molecule expression was enhanced by IFN-gamma, autologous T cell proliferation was markedly inhibited by clarithromycin. Clarithromycin has a considerable immunosuppressive effect on synoviocytes by inhibiting costimulatory molecule expression, cytokine production and antigen-specific T cell proliferation induced by synoviocytes.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, Nagasaki University School of Medicine, Nagasaki City, Japan.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Matsuoka
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Eguchi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kawakami
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsuboi
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kawabe
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aoyagi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nagataki
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000096:biosynthesis; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology*; D018122:B7-1 Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018968:CD58 Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000494:pharmacology; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000276:immunology*; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology; D014373:Tuberculin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015703:Antigens, CD; D018122:B7-1 Antigen; D018968:CD58 Antigens; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D016207:Cytokines; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; C065289:ICAM2 protein, human; D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D014373:Tuberculin; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D016753:Interleukin-10; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; D017291:Clarithromycin; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate