title: Decreased IL-12 production and Th1 cell development by acetyl salicylic acid-mediated inhibition of NF-kappaB.
abstract: IL-12 is a 75-kDa heterodimeric cytokine composed of two covalently linked p35 and p40 chains. This pro-inflammatory cytokine plays a prominent role in the development of Th1 cell-mediated immune responses. Th1 cell-mediated immune responses have been implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory autoimmune diseases. Thus, IL-12 appears to be a critical factor in the generation and maintenance of chronic inflammatory conditions. In this study, we investigated the effects of a commonly prescribed anti-inflammatory drug, acetyl salicylic acid (ASA), on IL-12 production and Th1 cell development. ASA was found to inhibit secretion of the IL-12 heterodimer as well as p40 monomer by human monocytic cells. This was associated with the down-regulation of IL-12p40 mRNA expression. Analysis of the regulation of the p40 gene promoter revealed that ASA inhibited NF-kappaB activation and binding to the p40-kappaB site in the p40 promoter, leading to transcriptional repression of the p40 gene. Addition of ASA to an in vitro T helper cell differentiation system, at concentrations compatible with plasma levels reached during anti-inflammatory therapy, resulted in reduced development of Th1 cells. These results suggest that the inhibition of NF-kappaB activation by ASA leads to down-regulation of IL-12 production and inhibition of Th1 cell development.
authors.affiliation: Roche Milano Ricerche, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mazzeo
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Panina-Bordignon
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Recalde
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sinigaglia
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: D'Ambrosio
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001241:Aspirin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D016328:NF-kappa B; D018664:Interleukin-12; D001241:Aspirin