title: Downregulation of the proinflammatory cytokine response to endotoxin by pretreatment with the nontoxic lipid A analog SDZ MRL 953 in cancer patients.
abstract: Interfering with the endotoxin-mediated cytokine cascade is thought to be a promising approach to prevent septic complications in gram-negative infections. The synthetic lipid A analog SDZ MRL 953 has been shown to be protective against endotoxic shock and bacterial infection in preclinical in vivo models. As part of a trial of unspecific immunostimulation in cancer patients, we conducted a double-blind, randomized, vehicle-controlled phase I trial of SDZ MRL 953 to investigate, first, its biologic effects and safety of administration in humans and, second, its influence on reactions to a subsequent challenge of endotoxin (Salmonella abortus equi). Twenty patients were treated intravenously with escalating doses of SDZ MRL 953 or vehicle control, followed by an intravenous application of endotoxin (2 ng/kg of body weight [BW]). Administration of SDZ MRL 953 was safe and well-tolerated. SDZ MRL 953 itself increased granulocyte counts and serum levels of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), but not of the proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), IL-1beta, and IL-8. Compared with vehicle control, pretreatment with SDZ MRL 953 markedly reduced the release of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-8, IL-6, and G-CSF, but augmented the increase in granulocyte counts to endotoxin. Induction of tolerance to the endotoxin-mediated cascade of proinflammatory cytokines by pretreatment with SDZ MRL 953 in patients at risk may help to prevent complications of gram-negative sepsis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital of Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kiani
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tschiersch
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gaboriau
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Otto
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Seiz
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Knopf
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stütz
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Färber
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Haus
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Galanos
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mertelsmann
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Engelhardt
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000494:pharmacology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood; D008050:Lipid A / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012475:Salmonella; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D016207:Cytokines; D004731:Endotoxins; D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D008050:Lipid A; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C027952:salmonella toxin; C068979:SDZ MRL 953