Clemastine causes immune suppression through inhibition of extracellular signal-regulated kinase–dependent proinflammatory cytokines - 30/11/11
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Abstract |
Background |
Antihistamines are considered safe and used worldwide against allergy, pruritus, nausea, and cough and as sleeping aids. Nonetheless, a growing number of reports suggest that antihistamines also have immunoregulatory functions.
Objective |
We examined the extent and by what potential mechanisms histamine-1-receptor (H1R) antagonists exert immune suppressive effects.
Methods |
Immune suppression by antihistamines and immunosuppressants was tested in mice infected with Listeria monocytogenes. Potential modes of action were studied in vitro by using murine and human cells. We also tested whether injection of clemastine in healthy volunteers affected the activation of peripheral macrophages and monocytes. Finally, therapeutic application of clemastine-mediated immune suppression was tested in a murine model of sepsis.
Results |
Clemastine and desloratadine strongly reduced innate responses to Listeria monocytogenes in mice as did dexamethasone. The immune suppression was MyD88 independent and characterized by inhibition of the mitogen-activated protein kinase–extracellular signal-regulated kinase signaling pathway, leading to overall impaired innate immunity with reduced TNF-⍺ and IL-6 production. Surprisingly, the observed effects were H1R independent as demonstrated in H1R-deficient mice. Moreover, in a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial, 1 intravenous administration of clemastine reduced the TNF-⍺ secretion potential of peripheral blood macrophages and monocytes. This inhibition could be exploited to treat sepsis in mice.
Conclusions |
The safety profile of antihistamines may need to be revisited. However, antihistamine-mediated immune suppression may also be exploited and find applications in the treatment of inflammatory diseases.
Le texte complet de cet article est disponible en PDF.Key words : Antihistamine, bacterial infections, immune suppression, innate immunity, cytokines, signal transduction, sepsis
Abbreviations used : CFUs, ERK, H1R, IκB, LM, LPS, MAPK, NF-κB
Plan
This study was supported by a grant (#31003A-122221) from the Swiss National Science Foundation. |
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Disclosure of potential conflict of interest: A. Weiss is an employee of Novartis Pharma AG. The rest of the authors have declared that they have no conflict of interest. |
Vol 128 - N° 6
P. 1286-1294 - décembre 2011 Retour au numéroBienvenue sur EM-consulte, la référence des professionnels de santé.
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