Abstract
Tranilast (TN) is a drug developed in Japan, and its significant efficacy in allergic disorders has been demonstrated in the IgE mediated allergic reactions, which is mediated by chemical mediators from mast cells. TN suppress the release of chemical mediators, but its effects on mononuclea cells has been obscure. We demonstrated the suppressive effects on TN on human mononuclear cells in vitro studies. TN suppressed the DNA synthesis stimulated by phytohemagglutinin (PHA), polyclonal immunoglobulin (Ig) production by pokeweed mitogen (PWM) and killer T cells induction. Both lymphocytes (PBL) and macrophages (Mφ) were affected. Release of interleukin-1 (IL-1) from Mφ and proliferation of cultured fibroblasts enhanced by IL-1 were reduced, and similar results were obtained in the experiments of interleukin-2 (IL-2) from T cells and in the proliferation of IL-2 dependent cells.
These results indicate the TN has suppressive effects not in the IgE mediated allergic reactions but in other allergic or inflammatoric responses.
