Langerhans cells (LCs) are localized in the epidermis and performs a key role in the induction of immune response and immunologic tolerance. Macrophages are phagocytic cells that act as first line of defense of the organism, and they are involved in the granuloma formation in patients with leprosy. The immunopathogeny of the cellular response in the reactional states is yet little studied, however, several evidences suggest that the drugs prednisone, thalidomide, cyclosporine and amitriptyline, used in the control of leprosy reactions, perform their effects by the modulation of different immunocompetent cells functions. The objective of the present study was to analyze in vitro action of prednisone, thalidomide, cyclosporine and amitriptyline on the cytokine production by LCs and macrophages of BALB/c mice. LCs were isolated, purified and cultivated from the epidermis by the panning technique and macrophages were isolated by the peritoneal cavity of BALB/c mice.
After 36 h of treatment with the drugs, the levels of TNF-, IL-12 and IL-10 were
measured by ELISA. Prednisone, thalidomide, cyclosporine and amitriptyline
inhibited TNF- produced by LCs, in both concentrations, however no important
alterations in IL-12 production were detected. TNF- and IL-12 production by
macrophages was also decreased after treatment, but IL-10 levels were not modified
for none of the drugs tested. Our results show that these drugs can modulate the
immune response by the regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF- and IL-12
by purified epidermal LCs and peritoneal macrophages, indicating that they constitute
an important target for the drugs used in treatment of leprosy reactional states.
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