Interleukin-12 inhibits production of interleukin-5 but not of granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor by antigen-stimulated blood mononuclear cells in allergic bronchial asthmatics.
Bronchial asthma, characterized by eosinophilic inflammation in airways, may involve Th2-type cytokines such as interleukin-5 (IL-5). IL-12, a newly established cytokine, induces IFN-gamma production, which may have a regulatory effect on the production of Th2-type cytokines. We examined the effects of IL-12 on the productions of IL-5 and granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) by antigen (Dermatophagoides farinae, Df)-stimulated mononuclear cells (MNCs) from asthmatic patients in vitro. IL-12 enhanced IFN-gamma production and inhibited the production of IL-5 but not of GM-CSF by Df-stimulated MNCs from asthmatic patients. Exogenous IFN-gamma directly inhibited IL-5 production by Df-stimulated MNCs and the inhibition of IL-5 production by IL-12 was partially blocked by anti-IFN-gamma antibody in culture, indicating that inhibitory effect of IL-12 on IL-5 production by antigen-stimulated MNCs is partially dependent on IFN-gamma production. IL-12 also inhibited the release of eosinophil survival-stimulating factor from MNCs. These results indicate that IL-12 may be therapeutically beneficial in correcting Th1/Th2 imbalance in bronchial asthma.
Okano
Y
Y
3rd Department of Internal Medicine, University of Tokushima School of Medicine, Tokushima City, Japan.
Nakamura
Y
Y
Sano
T
T
Azuma
M
M
Sone
S
S
D000328:Adult; D019138:Antibodies, Blocking / Q000276:immunology; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000166:cytology; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000378:metabolism*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D019138:Antibodies, Blocking; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D006023:Glycoproteins; D015848:Interleukin-5; D018664:Interleukin-12; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor