title: Modulation of the human interleukin-12p40 response by a triazole antifungal derivative, itraconazole.
abstract: Some types of antimicrobial agents such as fosfomycin, clarithromycin, and erythromycin have been known to affect the host's immunological response. We investigated whether itraconazole (ITCZ) can modulate the serum cytokine levels (tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha, interleukin (IL)-10, IL-12p40) in both patients and healthy subjects. Serum samples were collected and TNF-alpha, IL-10 and IL-12p40 were measured using a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We showed increased levels of IL-12p40 in patients treated with ITCZ. In healthy subjects, moreover, ITCZ treatment significantly increased the production of IL-12p40, but not TNF-alpha or IL-10. These findings suggest that the effectiveness of ITCZ in the treatment of fungal infection may be due not only to its direct antifungal effect, but also to induction of an immunomodulative effect on the host defense systems by regulation of cytokine production.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Fukui National Hospital, Tsuruga, Japan.
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Hiromichi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Iwasaki
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: Hideyo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.forename: Takanori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ueda
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis* / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000032:analysis*; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000032:analysis*; D053762:Interleukin-12 Subunit p40; D017964:Itraconazole / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009181:Mycoses / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000032:analysis* / Q000187:drug effects; D012016:Reference Values; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D053762:Interleukin-12 Subunit p40; D021122:Protein Subunits; D016753:Interleukin-10; D018664:Interleukin-12; D017964:Itraconazole