title: Immunomodulation by a novel, dissociated Vitamin D analogue.
abstract: The biologically active metabolite of vitamin D3, 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, has potent immunomodulatory activity; however, its clinical use is limited because of its hypercalcaemic activity in anti-inflammatory active doses. Here, we present ZK203278, a novel, structurally different vitamin D3 analogue with profound immunomodulatory activities. It potently inhibits lymphocyte proliferation in the mixed lymphocyte reaction, and release of cytokines that are central in inflammation, such as TNFalpha and IL-12 in the low nanomolar range. Similarly, expression of cell-surface molecules involved in cell adhesion and antigen presentation, e.g. to T cells, is down-regulated on human monocytes by low nanomolar concentrations of ZK203278. Potent anti-inflammatory activity has been demonstrated also in vivo in rodent disease models. ZK203278 inhibited allergic contact dermatitis in rodents after oral administration in doses approximately two orders of magnitude below the hypercalcaemic threshold dose. Moreover, ZK203278 significantly prolonged skin allograft survival in rats in well-tolerated doses. Altogether ZK203278, in contrast to 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, exerts considerable immunomodulatory activity at non-hypercalcaemic dosages and may have therapeutic potential for immune disorders or transplant rejection.
authors.affiliation: Global Drug Discovery, Common Mechanism Research Early Projects, Bayer Schering Pharma AG, Müllerstrasse 178, Berlin 13342, Germany. ulrich.zuegel@bayerhealthcare.com
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Zügel
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Steinmeyer
authors.forename: Ekkehard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: May
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lehmann
authors.forename: Khusru
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Asadullah
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000276:immunology*; D004139:Dinitrofluorobenzene / Q000009:adverse effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D023421:Models, Animal; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology*; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D007155:Immunologic Factors; C544428:ZK203278; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D014807:Vitamin D; D004139:Dinitrofluorobenzene; D002118:Calcium