C. Stevens et al., 5-AMINOSALICYLIC ACID ABROGATES T-CELL PROLIFERATION BY BLOCKING INTERLEUKIN-2 PRODUCTION IN PERIPHERAL-BLOOD MONONUCLEAR-CELLS, The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics, 272(1), 1995, pp. 399-406
The antiinflammatory agent sulfasalazine (SS) is prescribed to treat C
rohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and rheumatoid arthritis. Activated
T cells are present within diseased mucosal and synovial sites. We te
sted whether SS or its metabolites 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) and s
ulfapyridine (SP) inhibited the T-cell activation products interleukin
2 (IL-2) and interleukin 2 receptor alpha-chain (IL-2R alpha). Experi
ments were performed in phytohemaglutinin- and phorbol ester-stimulate
d peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Radioactive thymidine and leucin
e incorporation assayed DNA and protein synthesis, respectively. Enzym
e-linked immunosorbent assay and Northern blot analysis measured IL-2
and IL-2R alpha. Lactate dehydrogenase release determined cell viabili
ty, and intracellular free calcium was measured by an indole fluoresce
nt indicator. SS and 5-ASA, but not SP, inhibited T-cell proliferation
and protein synthesis in phytohemaglutinin- and phorbol ester-stimula
ted peripheral blood monomuclear cells. 5-ASA (625 mu M) markedly redu
ced culture supernatant IL-2 protein levels by 92% and steady-state IL
-2 messenger RNA levels 4.4-fold at 24 and 18 hr, respectively. The su
pplementation of IL-2 restored T-cell proliferation only in 5-ASA-trea
ted cultures. SS, 5-ASA and SP did not alter intracellular calcium acc
umulation after mitogenic stimulation. SS and 5-ASA (625 mu M) caused
71% and 37% cytotoxicity, respectively, in 72-hr cultures. 5-ASA inhib
its T-cell proliferation in part by blocking IL-2 messenger RNA accumu
lation and protein production downstream of the rise in cytosolic calc
ium. Inhibition of IL-2 production is an additional mechanism of actio
n for 5-ASA.