Interleukin-I (IL-1) is a hormone-like polypeptide which has multiple effects on the invasion of microorganisms, inflammation, tissue injury and immunologic responses.
Dapsone (DDS) has been an effective treatment for dermatitis herpetiformis and erythema elevatum diutinum, as well as having a suppressive effect on complement induced-arthritis and carrageenan-induced inflammation. Thalidomide had been
reintroduced for
limited use in the treatment of erythema nodosum leprosum. Behcet's syndrome and severe aphthosis. But, the mechanisms of the anti-inflammatory effect of these drugs are still controversial. On the other hand, glucocorticoids have been shown to
suppress
production of IL-1 mRNA, which was used as a positive control in this experiment. To determine whether the anti-inflammatory activity derives from the suppression of IL-1, we studied the effect of DDS and thalidomide on IL-1 β mRNA production.
1. IL-1β mRNA production in U937 cells was not suppressed by the treatment with DDS (100 ㎍/㎖).
2. IL-1β mRNA production in U937 cells was not suppressed by the treatment with thalidomide (10 ㎍/㎖).
3. IL-1β mRNA production in U937 cells was well suppressed by 10E-6M glucocorticoids (prednisolone, prednicarbate, dexamethasone acetate), of which dexamethasone acetate was the strongest, followed by prednicarbate and prednisolone.
In conclusion, neither DDS nor thalidomide suppress IL-1β mRNA production. Therefore, their anti-inflammatory mechanism may be different from glucocorticoids.
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