FUT-175 inhibits the production of IL-6 and IL-8 in human monocytes

We investigated the effect of FUT-175, a serine protease inhibitor, on the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleu kin-8 (IL-8), by monocytes stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Monocy tes isolated from healthy volunteers were incubated with LPS and various co ncentrations of FUT-175 for 12 hours. The productions of both IL-6 and IL-8 , measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, were significantly inhibit ed by FUT at the concentration of 1 to 100 mu g/ml in a dose-dependent mann er. Furthermore, the expressions of IL-6 and IL-8 mRNAs were also inhibited by FUT-175. These data suggest that FUT-175 may reduce the pathological in flammatory conditions associated with enhanced production of pro-inflammato ry cytokines including IL-6 and IL-8.