title: Pamidronate infusion in patients with systemic sclerosis results in changes in blood mononuclear cell cytokine profiles.
abstract: A single infusion of pamidronate was given to patients with systemic sclerosis (scleroderma, SSc) to assess effects on cytokine production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and lymphocyte subsets. Eighteen patients with SSc received a single intravenous dose of 60 mg of pamidronate and were followed for 6 months. Assessment of cytokine production [interferon (IFN)-gamma, interleukin (IL)-10, transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and IL-4] by PBMC and lymphocyte subsets by flow cytometry was carried out before and after the pamidronate infusion. Unstimulated PBMC produced increased amounts of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha and reduced levels of TGF-beta1 for up to 24 weeks after the infusion. gammadelta T cells from patients with SSc were activated in vitro and produced increased IFN-gamma. The effects of pamidronate on modulation of cytokine profiles in patients with SSc may merit future study.
authors.affiliation: Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Divisions of Connective Tissue Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Tennessee, Memphis, TN 38163, USA. LCarbone@utmem.edu
authors.forename: L D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Carbone
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Warrington
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Barrow
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pugazhenthi
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Watsky
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Somes
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ingels
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Postlethwaite
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077268:Pamidronate; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D004164:Diphosphonates; D000077268:Pamidronate