Effects of Yokuinin on the therapeutic efficacy of a new benzoxazinorifamycin KRM-1648 against Mycobacterium avium infection

The Chinese traditional medicine, Yokuinin, which has anti-inflammatory eff ects and anti-human papilloma virus activity, was examined for its effects on the therapeutic efficacy of a benzoxazinorifamycin KRM-1648 (KRM) agains t Mycobacterium avium infection in mice. Reverse transcription-PCR analysis revealed that Yokuinin increased the mRNA expression of all test cytokines in lung tissues of infected ice at week 8, in the order transforming growt h factor-beta (TGF-beta) > IFN-gamma > TNF-alpha > IL-10. Mice given Yokuin in in combination with KRM had higher levels of TFG-beta mRNA expression th an did mice given KRM alone, indicating that TGF-beta plays an important ro le in the expression of the anti-inflammatory effect of Yokuinin in vivo. Y okuinin reduced IL-10 production by M. avium-infected macrophages ph. (M Ph i s) but did not affect M Phi TFG-beta production. Although Yokuinin signif icantly modified cytokine expression in M. avium-infected mice, this drug d id not influence the therapeutic efficacy of KRM against M. avium infection , suggesting that administration of Yokuinin in combination with KRM to the patients with M. avium infection does not cause severe disadvantages. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. and International Society of Chemot herapy. All rights reserved.