EFFECTS OF CYCLOSPORINE-A, FK-506 AND GENISTEIN ON IL-6, IL-8 PRODUCTION AND GENE-EXPRESSION BY HUMAN MONONUCLEAR-CELLS

In the present investigation, we compared the effects of CsA, FK-506 a nd the tyrosine kinase inhibitor, genistein on the synthesis and mRNA expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) in human m ononuclear cells. In cultures of mitogen stimulated PBMC, neither CsA nor FK-506 inhibited the synthesis or expression of mRNA for IL-6 and IL-8. In contrast, genistein inhibited both the synthesis and expressi on of mRNA for IL-6 and IL-8. Our results suggest that compared to CsA or FK-506, genistein has additional immunosuppressive activity that m ay be of importance in immunologically mediated processes.