Hmj. Leng et al., CYTOKINE-MEDIATED INHIBITION OF ERYTHROPOIETIN SYNTHESIS BY DEXAMETHASONE, Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 48(9), 1996, pp. 971-974
The effect of inflammatory cytokines on the in-vitro synthesis of eryt
hropoietin by HepG2 cells was evaluated. Monocyte-conditioned medium,
and the cytokines interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-6 and tumour necrosi
s factor-alpha all reduced synthesis of erythropoietin. The steroidal
anti-inflammatory drug, dexamethasone, did not affect cytokine-mediate
d erythropoietin inhibition. Dexamethasone did cause a reduction in th
e secretion of erythropoietin inhibitory cytokines from monocytes. The
se results point to a possible therapeutic approach in the treatment o
f anaemia caused by suppression of erythropoietin synthesis by monocyt
ic cytokines.