Abstract
Certain kinds of antibiotics were known to have biological activities other than their original antimicrobial activity. However, precise action mechanisms of these antibiotics on immune cells of human origin have not been well-understood. In this study, we examined inhibitory effects of valinomycin, azithromycin and nigericin on the production of several cytokines from T cell mitogen-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs)obtained from healthy subjects. Concentrations of interferonγ(IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factorα(TNF-α), interleukin(IL)-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-17 in the culture supernatant of concanavalin A-stimulated PBMCs were determined with cytometric bead array procedures. Valinomycin and nigericin at 0.01-100μmol/L significantly decreased the production of these cytokines. Azithromycin also decreased the cytokine production, while its effects were weaker than that of valinomycin or nigericin. Immunosuppressive antibiotics may have benefits for prevention of acute rejection and opportunistic infection in organ transplant recipients. Thus, our present data valuate further study for the efficacies of valinomycin, azithromycin, and nigericin as immunosuppressive agents.
