Effects of ribavirin on cytokine production of recall antigens and phytohemaglutinin-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells. (Inhibitory effects of ribavirin on cytokine production).
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of ribavirin on cytokine production of recall antigen and PHA-stimulated PBMC obtained from healthy individuals.


METHODS
PBMC were challenged with tetanus toxoid (5 microg/mL) and PHA (10 microg/mL) in absence or presence of ribavirin at different concentrations (1, 10 and 100 (microM). Parallel sets of wells containing PBMC exposed to medium alone were used as negative controls. On day 3 after initiation of the cultures, IL-2, IFN-gamma, IL-4, IL-10, TNF-alpha content were determined in supernatants of PBMC from the different individuals.


RESULTS
The effects of ribavirin on cytokine released by human PBMC in response to PHA and TT showed a great variation among individuals. No significant changes were observed between 1-10 microM concentrations in the production of TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma and IL-10 by both PHA and TT-stimulated PBMC. Ribavirin inhibited TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, and IL-10 in both PHA and TT-stimulated PBMC at 100 microM (p <0.05). At this concentration, ribavirin induced an increase of 124% in the production of IL-2 by PHA-stimulated PBMC (p <0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The present data suggest that ribavirin may cause diverse effects on immunoregulatory cytokine secretion with changes in the Th1/Th2 balance.
Sookoian
Silvia
S
Gastroenterology Section, Internal Medicine Department, Hospital JM Penna, GCBA. ssookoian@intramed.net
Castaño
Gustavo
G
Flichman
Diego
D
Cello
Jerónimo
J
D000941:Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000378:metabolism; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
D000941:Antigens; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D007376:Interleukin-2; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4; D012254:Ribavirin; D007371:Interferon-gamma