title: Enhancement of cytokine production and AP-1 transcriptional activity in T cells by thalidomide-related immunomodulatory drugs.
abstract: CC-4047 (Actimid) and CC-5013 (Revimid) belong to a class of thalidomide analogs collectively known as the immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs), which are currently being assessed in the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma and other cancers. IMiDs potently enhance T cell and natural killer cell responses and inhibit tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1 beta, and IL-12 production from LPS-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells. However, the molecular mechanism of action for these compounds is unknown. Herein, we report on the ability of the IMiDs to up-regulate production of IL-2 from activated human CD4+ and CD8+ peripheral blood T cells, production of IL-2 and IFN-gamma from T helper (Th)1-type cells, and production of IL-5 and IL-10 from Th2-type cells. Elevation of IL-2 production from Jurkat T cells was observed as early as 6 h poststimulation and correlated with an increase in IL-2 promoter activity that was dependent upon the proximal but not the distal AP-1 binding site. The IMiDs enhanced AP-1-driven transcriptional activity 2- to 4-fold after 6 h of T cell stimulation, and their relative potencies for AP-1 activation correlated with their potencies for increased IL-2 production in Jurkat T cells and in CD4+ or CD8+ human peripheral blood T cells. The most potent of these IMiDs, CC-4047, had no effect on nuclear factor of activated T cells transcriptional activity, calcium signaling, or phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2, c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase 1/2, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, or c-Jun/Jun D in Jurkat T cells. These data suggest that IMiDs increase T cell cytokine production by potentiating AP-1 transcriptional activity.
authors.affiliation: Celgene Corporation, 7 Powder Horn Dr., Warren, NJ 07059, USA. pschafer@celgene.com
authors.forename: Peter H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Schafer
authors.forename: Anita K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Gandhi
authors.forename: Michelle A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Loveland
authors.forename: Roger S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Hon-Wah
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Man
authors.forename: Paul P M
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Schnetkamp
authors.forename: Gregor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wolbring
authors.forename: Sowmya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Govinda
authors.forename: Laura G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Corral
authors.forename: Faribourz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Payvandi
authors.forename: George W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Muller
authors.forename: David I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Stirling
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D019703:Calcineurin / Q000378:metabolism; D020013:Calcium Signaling; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D053614:Janus Kinase 2; D019169:Jurkat Cells; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D048369:MAP Kinase Kinase 1; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000378:metabolism; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D016207:Cytokines; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1; D013792:Thalidomide; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; C507924:JAK2 protein, human; D053614:Janus Kinase 2; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048369:MAP Kinase Kinase 1; C482125:MAP2K1 protein, human; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases; D019703:Calcineurin; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens