Antigen presentation and HLA-DR expression by FK-506-treated human monocytes

• Published in: Immunology Vol. 71; no. 4; pp. 551 - 555
• Main Authors: WOO, J, PROPPER, D. J, THOMSON, A. W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Blackwell 01-12-1990
• Subjects: Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Antigen-Presenting Cells - drug effects; Biological and medical sciences; Cyclosporins - pharmacology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; HLA-DR Antigens - analysis; Humans; Immunobiology; Immunosuppressive Agents - pharmacology; Interleukin-1 - immunology; Interleukin-2 - immunology; Lymphocyte Activation - drug effects; Modulation of the immune response (stimulation, suppression); Monocytes - drug effects; Monocytes - immunology; Recombinant Proteins - immunology; T-Lymphocytes - immunology; Tacrolimus; Tuberculin - immunology; Human; Immunomodulator; Cell proliferation; Antigen presentation; HLA-System; Monocyte; Major histocompatibility system; Class II histocompatibility antigen; T-Lymphocyte; Immunosuppressive agent; HLA-DR-Locus; Biological activity
• ISSN: 0019-2805; 1365-2567

The novel macrolide immunosuppressant FK-506 demonstrated superior potency to cyclosporin A (CsA) in the inhibition of purified protein derivative (PPD)-induced human T-cell proliferation. Pulsing of monocytes with PPD for 24 hr in the presence of FK-506 did not impair their capacity to subsequently induced the proliferation of purified autologous T cells. In contrast, FK-506 profoundly inhibited the proliferative response of T cells to antigen-pulsed monocytes. Recombinant IL-2, but not IL-1, partially restored the proliferative response to PPD in the presence of the drug. FK-506 had no effect on basal or rIFN-gamma-induced expression of HLA-DR on monocytic cell line cells. These findings provide the first evidence that FK-506 can profoundly inhibit soluble antigen-induced human T-cell proliferation at concentrations which do not significantly impair the accessory function of mononuclear phagocytes.