Effects of bucillamine and N-acetyl-L-cysteine on cytokine production and collagen-induced arthritis (CIA)

We investigated the effects of bucillamine and N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) on cytokine production and CIA. Bucillamine and NAC inhibited NF-kappa B acti vation and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a) mRNA expression in human mo nocytic leukaemia cell line THP-1, and cytokine production from monocyte ce ll lines at concentrations >10(-3) M. They also inhibited cytokine producti on and CIA in mice at a dose of 500 mg/kg. These results suggest that NF-ka ppa B inhibitors such as bucillamine and NAC may inhibit cytokine-related d iseases, including arthritis.