THE MODULATORY EFFECT OF TETRANDRINE ON THE CD23, CD25, AND HLA-DR EXPRESSION AND CYTOKINE PRODUCTION IN DIFFERENT GROUPS OF ASTHMATIC-PATIENTS

The therapeutic effect and mechanism of action of tetrandrine on asthm a are not defined. Recently, it has been proposed that mononuclear cel l (MNC) infiltration in the airway plays a role in the pathogenesis of asthma. In this study, we evaluated the effect of tetrandrine on the cell receptor expression and cytokine production of MNC from two group s (young atopic and old non-atopic) of stable asthmatic patients. MNC separated from peripheral blood of both asthmatic patients and normal individual were cultured in serum free RPMI-1640, with or without phyt ohemagglutinin (5 mu g/ml) and tetrandrine (2 mu g/ml). After culture, MNCs were harvested and stained with monoclonal antibodies for HLA-DR , CD23, CD25 and CD3. MNC supernatants were collected for the measurem ent of IL-2, IL-4 and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). The results show t hat tetrandrine may inhibit (1) MNC proliferation, (2) the production of IL-2, IL-4 and IFN-gamma, and (3) the expression of HLA-DR, CD23 an d CD25 On CD3 positive T cells. They were inhibited to a similar exten t in both groups of asthmatic patients. These results suggest that tet randrine might have some therapeutic role in relation to the suppressi on of lymphocyte function in asthmatics.