title: Inhibition of interleukin 5 production with no influence on interleukin 4 production by an anti-allergic drug, tranilast, in Toxocara canis-infected mice.
abstract: Tranilast is well-known as a useful drug for allergic diseases. This drug is believed to exhibit its therapeutic effects by inhibiting the release of chemical mediators from mast cells and basophils. Effects of tranilast on T helper type 2 (Th2) cytokine production were investigated in mice infected with Toxocara canis (Tc). Tranilast reduced interleukin (IL)-5 production in a dose-dependent manner but not IL-4 production at all in lung and spleen cells from Tc-infected mice cultured under stimulation with excretory-secretory antigen. Obvious IL-5 mRNA expression was observed at week 1 in the lung alone, and IL-4 mRNA expression was detected at similar levels at weeks 1-6 of infection in both lung and spleen. IL-5 but not IL-4 mRNA expression in the lung was significantly inhibited by daily administration of 100 mg/kg of tranilast for 1 week. This treatment also reduced the serum IL-5 level. Thus, tranilast inhibited IL-5 but not IL-4 production either in vitro or in vivo. The results imply that IL-5 and IL-4 production by Th2 cells may be controlled through different mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, Matsumoto, Nagano, 390-8621, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hiratochi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takamoto
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tatemichi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sugane
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007814:Larva / Q000276:immunology; D008168:Lung / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D017166:Toxocara canis / Q000276:immunology; D014120:Toxocariasis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000469:parasitology; D062367:ortho-Aminobenzoates / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D015848:Interleukin-5; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D062367:ortho-Aminobenzoates; D015847:Interleukin-4; C012293:tranilast