title: Suppressive effect of diazepam on IFN-gamma production by human T cells.
abstract: Many studies showed that benzodiazepines could modulate immune responses through interaction with peripheral benzodiazepine receptors (PBRs) in immune cells but most of the studies were focused on monocytes and macrophages. In the present study, we revealed that diazepam, a mixed-type benzodiazepine, inhibited IFN-gamma production by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) induced by anti-CD3 in dose-dependent manner. Flow cytometry analysis demonstrated that diazepam could inhibit the frequency of IFN-gamma-producing CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells. The inhibitory effect of diazepam on IFN-gamma production is similar to that of R(0)5-4864, a selective PBRs ligand. However, D8555, a selective ligand for PBRs in microglia in the central nervous system, is a much weak inhibitor compared with R(0)5-4864 or diazepam. The inhibitory effect of R(0)5-4864 could be antagonized by PK11195, which is recognized as selective PBRs antagonist, and suppressive effect of diazepam on T cells is partially antagonized by PK11195. Collectively, these results suggested that diazepam suppressed human T cell function through PBRs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Zhongshan School of Medicine; Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, PR China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: Yanying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.forename: Xianguo
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Changyou
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001570:Benzodiazepinones / Q000494:pharmacology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects; D003864:Depression, Chemical; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007546:Isoquinolines / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D017628:Microglia / Q000187:drug effects; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects; D017933:Peripheral Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000187:drug effects; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001570:Benzodiazepinones; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D007546:Isoquinolines; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; C028513:4'-chlorodiazepam; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D003975:Diazepam; C037850:PK 11195