Anti-inflammatory effects of theophylline: Modulation of immune functions during murine leukemia virus infection

LP-BM5 murine leukemia virus induces immune dysfunction leading to B cell l eukemia and murine AIDS with cytokine dsyregulation. Theophylline induces a poptosis of leukemia cells in humans. Therefore the effects of theophylline on immune dysfunction in a murine model of leukemia were investigated. C57 BL/6 mice consumed drinking water containing 0.3% theophylline beginning 2 weeks after murine retrovirus infection for 4 months. Theophylline largely prevented the retrovirus induced splenomagaly, lymphodenopathy, reduction i n B and T cell proliferation., and suppression of Th1 cytokines (IL-2) secr etion. It also suppressed Th2 cytokine (IL-4. TNF-alpha, and IL-10) product ion. which was otherwise stimulated by retrovirus infection. These data sug gest that immune dysfunction, induced by murine retrovirus infection, was l argely prevented by theophylline treatment.