Effects of the interferon inducing agents tilorone and polyriboinosinic acid . polyribocytidylic acid (poly IC) on the hepatic monooxygenase systems of pregnant and fetal rats

Current status and challenges of cytokine pharmacology

The major concern of pharmacology about cytokines has originated from plentiful data showing association between gross changes in their production and pathophysiological processes. Despite the enigmatic role of cytokines in diseases, a number of them have become a subject of cytokine and anti-cytokine immunotherapies. Production of cytokines can be influenced by many endogenous and exogenous stimuli including drugs. Cells of the immune system, such as macrophages and lymphocytes, are richly endowed with receptors for the mediators of physiological functions, such as biogenic amines, adenosine, prostanoids, steroids, etc. Drugs, agonists or antagonists of these receptors can directly or indirectly up- and down-regulate secretion of cytokines and expression of cytokine receptors. Vice versa, cytokines interfere with drug pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics through the interactions with cytochrome P450 and multiple drug resistance proteins. The aim of the review is to encourage more intensive studies in these fields of cytokine pharmacology. It also outlines major areas of searching promising candidates for immunotherapeutic interventions.

Prevention of tilorone developmental toxicity with progesterone

The immunomodulator tilorone hydrochloride was administered (gastric intubation) once to time-pregnant Upj:TUC(SD)spf (Sprague-Dawley) rats in four experiments. In experiment 1, tilorone (250 or 500 mg/kg) was administered on day 10 of gestation. The dams were killed 4 or 72 hr after dosing. Interferon-like activity and drug levels were determined in maternal blood, spleen, and thymus, as well as in the embryos. In experiment 2, the test groups received progesterone (2 mg/kg), or tilorone (200 or 400 mg/kg), or progesterone and tilorone. The dams from each group were killed 24 or 48 hr after receiving tilorone. Experiment 3 was similar to experiment 2, except that the dams were killed on gestation day 20. In experiment 4, tilorone (400 mg/kg) was administered on gestation day 17, 18, or 19, and the dams were killed 24 hr after dosing or on gestation day 20. In all four experiments, tilorone-related maternal toxicity (regardless of whether progesterone also was administered) was observed, as characterized by marked decreases in weight gain, the occurrence of clinical signs, and in experiment 1 by decreased thymus weights, 72 hr post-dosing. Dose-related increases in the mean number of dead embryos and in serum interferon titers occurred 72 hr postdosing. In experiment 2, there was an increase in the number of dams in the 400-mg/kg (tilorone only) group with dead embryos only, 24 hr postdosing; similar results occurred in both the 200- and 400-mg/kg groups, 48 hr postdosing. However, in the groups that also received progesterone, a partial prevention of such embryolethality was evident. In experiment 3, embryotoxicity again was observed in both tilorone-treated groups, whereas several of the dams that were also given progesterone through day 19 of gestation experienced at least a partial prevention of the embryolethal effects of tilorone. In experiment 4, no fetotoxicity was observed despite the severe maternal toxicity evident.

Interferon suppresses the isoform-specific activities of hepatic cytochrome P450 in female rats

The results from the present study indicate that rat IFN-gamma decreases hepatic P450 levels and catalytic activities in female rats. The magnitude of the down-regulation of P450 is similar to that found in male rats. Furthermore, the activities of specific P450 isoforms (P4502A1 and P4502C6 and possibly P4502C12, and P4502B1 and 2) are decreased by IFN. Hence, the effect of IFN in female rats appears to involve several, but not all, hepatic P450 isoforms. Both hormone-dependent and hormone-independent isoforms are suppressed by IFN. The mechanism for this effect does not, however, appear to be mediated by changes in serum levels of sex steroids.

Immunomodulating agents and hepatic drug-metabolizing enzymes

Immunomodulating agents are increasingly used in clinical practice to alter the course of various malignancies, autoimmune diseases, or immunodeficiencies. Experimental data obtained in laboratory animals suggest that nearly all agents available today are likely to inhibit hepatic drug-metabolizing enzymes. Although further investigation is warranted, a direct stimulation of the reticuloendothelial system is likely to play a key role. Potentially severe drug interactions are the main clinical consequences to be considered, particularly in the field of cancer chemoimmunotherapy and vaccination. Besides immunomodulating agents, drugs with the toxic potential for immunoenhancement may also be considered in that respect.

Effects of the interferon inducing agents tilorone and polyriboinosinic acid . polyribocytidylic acid (poly IC) on the hepatic monooxygenase systems of the developing neonatal rat

This paper describes the effects of the interferon inducing agents tilorone and polyriboinosinic acid . polyribocytidylic acid (poly IC) on the postnatal development of hepatic cytochrome P-450-linked monooxygenase systems of male rats from birth through early adolescence. The administration of tilorone to rats on days 1 and 2 postpartum modified the changes in the activities of hepatic monooxygenase systems that occur normally during the first four days postpartum. Thus, aniline hydroxylase activity, which develops very rapidly during the first 2 days postpartum, was depressed markedly by tilorone, ethylmorphine N-demethylase activity was depressed moderately, and benzo[a] pyrene hydroxylase, normally the slowest of the three monooxygenase activities to develop, was induced. These changes in monooxygenase activities occurred without a significant change in the cytochrome P-450 content. These observations suggest that not all species of neonatal cytochrome P-450 are affected equally by tilorone administration. By day 7 postpartum, the cytochrome P-450 content and all three monooxygenase activities were depressed in rats that had received tilorone on days 1 and 2 postpartum. All three monooxygenase systems were depressed by the administration of a single dose of poly IC (10 mg/kg) in 1-, 2-, 21-, 28- and 56-day-old rats. The length of the period between maximal depression and complete recovery of cytochrome P-450 systems was shown to be a function of the age of the rat; it increased from about 6 hr in 1-day-old rats to 48 hr in 56-day-old rats. Protein is synthesized more rapidly and degraded more slowly in neonate than in adult animals; this may account for the more rapid recovery of poly IC-induced depression of monooxygenase systems in neonates.